PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) – Family and friends of a 54-year-old man who was killed in Old Town earlier this summer went to court on Monday to see the suspect arraigned.
Patrick J. Rembert, 36, appeared by video in Multnomah County Circuit Court. He was arraigned on a secret grand jury indictment that was filed in June for the death of Marvin Holiday. He is charged with one count each of second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault.
Rembert, wearing a standard blue inmate uniform, carried a tissue with him and appeared to be wiping tears from his eyes before his arraignment.
Police say the investigation started when Marvin Holiday was found down on the ground suffering from an injury at 10:20 p.m. on June 4. Investigators believe Rembert punched Holiday, who fell back and hit his head. He suffered a brain injury, according to family members.
Holiday’s sister, Marlene, described her older brother as a very funny and artistic person.
“He was in his own right, just an easy going person,” she said.
Marlene Holiday spent a lot of time reading and writing. He took a particular interest in science, she says.
“Marvin was a funny, very artistic person,” she says. “We’d always laugh at his jokes.”
The Holiday family grew up in North and Northeast Portland. Marvin Holiday had recently struggled with substance abuse, his sister said. In late May, Marlene and Marvin spoke for about two hours on the phone. He finally admitted to struggling and Marlene offered the entire family’s help.
“We still cared and we still loved him,” she says. “We were always encouraging him: ‘You can do things different. Let’s work together as a family.’”
Police have not released many details about the fight that ultimately led to Holiday’s death.
According to the family, because he had used drugs in the past, Holiday was down in Old Town likely visiting with friends.
“Unfortunately, there’s a lot of drug use in the area and unfortunately my brother was struggling with some substance abuse,” Marlene Holiday said.
After his death, Marlene worried the case might go cold. She was afraid that people living in Old Town might not want to come forward with tips for detectives. She was surprised to learn 2 people testified before the grand jury, and then 2 more people later came forward. All 4, police said, had important information.
“A lot of people came forth and…said that Marvin didn’t deserve what happened,” she said
A court appointed attorney entered a not guilty plea on Rembert’s behalf.
He will be back in court on September 14.