Woman found dead under Newport bridge had prostitution conviction
A 28-year-old Santa Ana woman whose body was found face-down under the Newport Bay Bridge had previously been convicted on prostitution and drug possession charges.
Nancy Hammour’s body was found Monday under the bridge and an autopsy later determined she had been shot to death, authorities said.
Hammour is the second homicide victim this year to be discovered by passersby in the beach city.
Tina Hoang, 20, was found dead face-down on the sand in West Newport in March. Like Hammour, Hoang had had a child in the months before her death and faced prostitution charges in the past.
Hoang’s case is still under investigation, but there’s no reason to think the two deaths are connected, said Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella.
After Hammour’s body was found on Labor Day, divers with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department searched the waters under the bridge. Police declined to say whether any evidence was collected.
Court records show that Hammour pleaded guilty to misdemeanor prostitution and drunk driving charges in 2008. In January, she pleaded guilty to a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and was placed on probation for three years and ordered to attend a diversion program for 18 months, according to court records.
That probation was revoked in July, according to court documents.
Hammour’s brother declined to speak with a Daily Pilot reporter Wednesday but other family members told KTLA that Hammour was trying to turn her life around and regain custody of her 4-month-old son. She also has a 10-year-old son, Hammour’s sister told the television station.
“Deep inside I feel horrible to the point where I feel like I could of done something to help her avoid this,” Hammour’s brother, Rene Morales, wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. “Now I hope you are up there relaxing with our dad, watching over us and having a nice, cold Corona.”
The department asked anyone with more information to call a hotline at (800) 550-NBPD. Tips can be made anonymously.
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Dobruck writes for Times Community News.
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