Official statement to the media

Good morning everyone, I wanted to share with you the official statement made to the media by  Felicia Tang's mother and Gloria Allred who is representing the family:

Today, Felicia Tang's mother and I came to the Pasadena Superior Court to attend the preliminary hearing for Brian Lee Randone who is charged with the torture and murder of Felicia Tang, age 31.

Felicia was born in Singapore. At the age of 9, she went to school in Australia. In 1990, the family moved to Los Angeles and Felicia attended Rowland Heights High School. After high school, she studied business at Mt San Antonio College. She then worked for a mortgage company and in her twenties, she started fashion modeling.

In 2009, she went with some friends to Las Vegas and it was there that she met Brian poolside at the MGM Grand. They began dating and formed a relationship. At some point, she began to live with him in Monrovia.

Felicia began to take some classes in medical billing in college. She kept in contact with her mother, Elizabeth Tang and went to see her mom once a week. Then, according to police, on September 11, 2009, Felicia was tortured and murdered in Brian's home.

Elizabeth and her family are shocked and devastated by this tragedy. They loved Felicia and still cannot understand how anyone could commit such a horrible crimes on such a sweet and beautiful young woman. Compounding the pain of the tragedy for the family is what appears to be a ubiquitous reference in the media to Felicia as a porn star or ex-porn star. Given the fact that to the best of our knowledge, Felicia never appeared on camera engaging in any acts of sexual intercourse. We are at a loss to understand why certain members of the media insist on labeling Felicia in this manner. Why not college student, or model, or actress? Why not crime victim or homicide victim?

Is the porn star label an effort by supporters of the defense to try to dehumanize her somehow insinuate that she deserved to die if she was involved in pornography? Are some supporters of Brian Randone trying to suggest that because Brian has a bachelor's degree from a Bible Institute and a masters' degree in divinity that he is a good guy who should never have been arrested?

Ultimately, the criminal justice system will decide if Brian Lee Randone is guilty of the crimes with which he is charged, but at this point, one fact is a certainty. Felicia Tang was an innocent victim and did not deserve to die. Elizabeth Tang did not deserve to lose her daughter, and Felicia's siblings did not deserve to lose their sister. We ask the media to be more thoughtful of their choice of words.

Mr. Randone may have appeared on "The Sexiest Bachelor in America", but this is not a reality show. It is instead, a true life murder case involving allegations of terrible torture of the homicide victim before she was murdered. Every time Felicia is described in a way that her mother believes is inaccurate, the writer or speaker is contributing to her pain and her family's pain.

The family of a murder victim is also victimized by the murder of their loved one and further victimized by accounts of the deceased that are disrespectful, salacious, and untrue. The facts of this murder are gruesome and painful enough. We simply ask for restraint and respect for the deceased and her family who are all innocent victims of this horrific tragedy.

Gloria Allred

10/09/2009Here is a transcript of the statement Mrs. Tang made to the media:

My daughter, Felicia, was loved and cherished by her family and friends for her nonjudgemental character, kind heart and loyalty to those she trusted.

Like any other person, this daughter of mine had her share of triumphs and failures in her short life. Words cannot express the grief and pain my family and I are going though for her tragic loss.

I am going to miss the good times we had together and what I am going to miss most, is her warm loving smile.

My family and I intend to be here at the courthouse throughout this criminal process. We hope and pray that justice will be served.

Elizabeth Tang

10/09/2009