More Than a Headline: The Life and Death of Kelly Kazoon
When a woman is murdered in Las Vegas, headlines often reduce her to a statistic. That’s exactly what happened in 2018, when the press described Kelly Kazoon only as a “homeless woman.” But she was so much more than that.
This week on Sins and Survivors, we’re telling the full story of Kelly Deanne Kazoon—a mother, a widow, a friend, and a fiercely independent woman who loved animals, spontaneity, and family. After losing her husband to cancer, Kelly drifted into a vulnerable chapter of her life, one that ended in tragedy at the hands of someone she trusted.
The man responsible tried to claim he didn’t remember what happened. But the truth, pieced together through forensic evidence, testimony, and trial, revealed something else entirely.
Her family refused to let her story be erased by a single word. They fought to preserve her dignity and demanded justice—not just for Kelly, but for every person who’s been dehumanized by how society labels the unhoused.
We explore who Kelly was, what happened to her, and why her story matters—especially in a city where housing insecurity affects thousands and violent crime against the unhoused is rarely solved.
Listen now and learn why Kelly Kazoon’s name deserves to be remembered:
👉 https://sinspod.co/89
Shaun
Co-Host
Since her early teen years, Shaun has been contemplating the question, “How do we prevent crime?” Shaun has more than 25 years of experience in advocacy for survivors of crime, HIV/AIDS-infected/affected individuals, undocumented immigrants, family court petitioners, and children. She has lived in the Las Vegas area since 2005, working and volunteering for dozens of local non-profit organizations. Shaun is a proud graduate of City University of New York School of Law. Suggestions for episodes and questions for Shaun can be emailed questions@sinsandsurvivors.com
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