A nationally-recognized mixed martial arts fighter from Hawaii died of an apparent suicide in an Oregon jail, one day before a scheduled court appearance on child sex abuse charges.
Kauai native Eben Kaneshiro owned a martial arts school in Portland, Oregon and was accused of sexually abusing a boy.
Now, Oregon officials are looking for more possible victims because of a letter found in Kaneshiro’s jail cell hinting at additional crimes.
Kaneshiro was a veteran MMA fighter and a native of Omao on Kauai. Since 2007, he owned the New Breed Jiu Jitsu Academy in Portland, where he taught several kids.
The studio closed down after his arrest last week on three counts of sex abuse and sodomy of a child under the age of 12.
“He was alone with children most of the time — largest class size I ever saw was 60 at once,” said one father, whose two boys attended the school.
The father spoke to KOIN, KHON2’s sister station in Portland, under condition to keep his identity secret in order to protect his two boys, in case they were victims of Kaneshiro.
“Eben was not particularly friendly with children,” he said. “He didn’t have an aptitude to working with children, not particularly skilled at teaching them.”
The father is shocked by the allegations and never pegged Kaneshiro as a sexual predator.
More victims sought
But according to an Oregon official, Kaneshiro knew the young victim. Now, authorities are hoping more victims come forward.
“It’s really hard to cope with not knowing what’s happening, given he’s confessed to having other victims,” the father said, “and we don’t know what he’s done.”
According to Oregon authorities, if they identify or learn of any victims, they will be referred to victim services. Court proceedings, however, have been canceled due to Kaneshiro’s death.
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| Eben Kaneshiro |
Now, Oregon officials are looking for more possible victims because of a letter found in Kaneshiro’s jail cell hinting at additional crimes.
Kaneshiro was a veteran MMA fighter and a native of Omao on Kauai. Since 2007, he owned the New Breed Jiu Jitsu Academy in Portland, where he taught several kids.
The studio closed down after his arrest last week on three counts of sex abuse and sodomy of a child under the age of 12.
“He was alone with children most of the time — largest class size I ever saw was 60 at once,” said one father, whose two boys attended the school.
The father spoke to KOIN, KHON2’s sister station in Portland, under condition to keep his identity secret in order to protect his two boys, in case they were victims of Kaneshiro.
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| New Breed Martial Arts School, Portland, Oregon |
The father is shocked by the allegations and never pegged Kaneshiro as a sexual predator.
More victims soughtBut according to an Oregon official, Kaneshiro knew the young victim. Now, authorities are hoping more victims come forward.
“It’s really hard to cope with not knowing what’s happening, given he’s confessed to having other victims,” the father said, “and we don’t know what he’s done.”
According to Oregon authorities, if they identify or learn of any victims, they will be referred to victim services. Court proceedings, however, have been canceled due to Kaneshiro’s death.
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