Arrests Made In Stephanie Montez Case

Arrest have been made by the Nueces County Sheriff's Department in the murder case of Stephanie Montez.

Three suspects, 39year old Cedric Green, 41 year old Randy Dorsey and 36 year old Chloe Huehlefeld have been arrested and charged with murder. 

She may have been killed according the arrest affidavit, over $20 in rolled dimes.

All three are in jail on a $750,000 bond.   Dorsey was already out on a felony bond, and was additionally charged with tampering with a witness, a charge that carries with it an additional $125,000 bond.

The wastes of DNA the defendants will have an upcoming court date before 117th District Court Judge Sandra Watts on Saturday.

The Corpus Christ area trans community will also be watching this case to see if  Stephanie gets justice in it.

JonCasey Rowell Convicted In Monica Loera Murder Case

Good news out of Austin! 

After several hours of deliberation by a Travis County jury, JonCasey William Rowell was found GUILTY in the killing of Monica Loera at approximately 4:40 PM CST.

Rowell was charged with first degree murder by APD when he was arrested for the January 22, 2016  killing of Loera at her north Austin home.

After several days of testimony in the trial which started with jury selection last Monday, the Travis County jury hearing the case went into deliberation at noon CST today.

The case was observed by members of the Austin trans and gender non conforming community and friends of Loera.   

They will be in the courtroom tomorrow morning at 9 AM CST when Rowell is sentenced and we hope it will be a punishment that fits the heinous crime.   He is facing 99 years in jail.

2017 US Trans Murders List

We're getting close to this year's Transgender Day of Remembrance memorial events, and this is the current list of trans people who have died in the US in 2017.

Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28, Sioux Falls, SD
Mesha Caldwell, 41, Canton, MS
Jojo Striker, 23  Toledo, OH
Jaquarrius Holland, 18   Monroe, LA
Keke Collier, 24, Chicago, IL
Chyna Gibson, 31, New Orleans, LA
Ciara McElveen, 26, New Orleans, LA
Alphonza Watson, 38, Baltimore, MD
Chay Reed, 28, Miami, FL
Brenda Bostick, 59, New York, NY
Sherrell Faulkner, 46, Charlotte, NC
Kenne McFadden, 27, San Antonio, TX
Josie Berrios, 28, Ithaca, NY
Ava Le'Ray Barrin, 17, Athens, GA
Ebony Morgan, 28, Lynchburg, VA
Tee Tee Dangerfield, 32, College Park, GA
Gwynevere River Song,  26, Waxahachie, TX
Kashmire Redd, 28, Gates, NY
Derricka Banner, 28, Charlotte, NC
Ally Steinfeld, 17  Cabool, MO
Stephanie Montez, 47  Robstown, TX
Candace Towns, 30  Macon, GA


So far in 2017 we have lost 17 Black trans people, 1 Native American, 2 Latinas, and 2 White
16 of the 17 Black trans people we have lost in 2017 have been trans feminine, 1 trans masculine.

Breaking it down by age, 3 have been in their teens, 11 in their 20's,  4 in their 30's, 3 in their 40's and one in their 50's.

Youngest has been 17 in the persons of Ava  Le'Ray Barron and Ally Steinfeld, who was killed mere days before her 18th birthday    Oldest so far this year has been Brenda Bostick.

***I use the Gwen Smith Remembering Our Dead List standards to compile this list.  Like the Remembering our Dead List, one of the things I don't count in the overall total is police involved shootings.  Unless the police officer in question is indicted for murder, I can't legitimately consider that trans person's death via a police confrontation as a trans bias motivated murder. 

It's why I don't count Sean Hake and Kiwi Herring's deaths in this year's trans statistics.  They were both police involved shootings.  That's a separate issue with many variables in it.  .  

Also as per the Remembering Our Dead list standards, neither do I count suicides in my TransGriot  Remembering Our Dead count.  This may sound harsh, but a person who has committed suicide made a conscious choice to take their own life. A person who is murdered had their life snuffed out by another person or persons.

Suicide is also another separate issue with many variables, and shouldn't be lumped in with people who were murdered.  Neither should the folks who died via police involvement

Also, another mistake I see on the other lists that is a serious irritant to me is in Brenda Bostick being listed as Kenneth Bostick.

Brenda Bostick was trans feminine.  The New York City coroner who performed the autopsy on Ms. Bostick found breasts and a penis, so translation, she is TRANS FEMININE.

So please stop disrespecting Ms Bostick by listing her with a masculine name and correct your lists ASAP.
Another error that I see in several lists is the Josie Berrios situation.   She was also known as Kendra Marie Adams, and I've seen two lists with BOTH names on it. 
So that's why I have 22 people listed per Remembering Our Dead Project standards.

I just want those murders to stop.

Number 22- RIP Candace Towns

Woke up this morning to find out that we've lost our 22nd trans person to anti-trans violence in the person of 30 year old Candace Towns of Macon, GA.

Candace is also the 17th Black trans person we have lost this year to anti trans violence, and 16 of the 17 people were trans feminine.  Sadly she was just 30 years old.   She's the tenth Black trans person we've lost in 2017 who was age 30 or younger.

And as you probably guessed, the initial article by Laura Corley not only misgendered her, but also deadnamed Candace as well. 

Towns was staying at the Rodeway Inn on Eisenhower Parkway, was last seen alive Saturday,   and war reported missing on Sunday.   At 4 PM EDT Tuesday an anonymous 911 call was received  reporting a person was down at the end of a driveway and was possibly dead. 

That person was our trans sister, and police arrived she was found shot to death on top of a hill on Rosecrest Avenue between  Bright Street and Edgewood Ave. 

This had not been Candace's first brush with anti-trans violence.   In July 2009 the Macon Telegraph reported that she'd been shot in the ankle on Pebble Street, a few blocks from when her body was found Tuesday afternoon.

As of this writing there are no suspects in this case, and if you have any information that will lead to the apprehension and incarceration of the killer, please call  Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME (1-877-682-7463)

No word of any memorial service or funeral arrangements as of yet.   I'll pass that info on as soon as I receive it.   I also will keep track of the case until justice is served for our sister to the satisfaction of her family and all who loved her..

Killer Of Monica Loera Facing Trial Today

Monica Loera of Austin was the first of a record 27 trans people murdered in the United States in 2016.   Thanks to a tip from one of my TransGriot readers Lana Hunter, I've been made aware that the person accused of murdering her, JonCasey William Rowell, is about to go on trial for Loera's murder.

Yesterday Rowell was in court as a jury was empaneled in the 299th District Criminal Court in Austin for the trial that starts tomorrow.

Rowell was charged with first degree murder in this case.

Have a few Austin trans community members planning on checking out the proceedings in the trial in the hopes that our sister receives justice in this case.   We'll also be watching to see if the defense attorney for Rowell attempts to use the trans panic defense which sadly is still legal to use in the Lone Star State.

You know I'll be keeping an eye on what transpires in that Travis County courtroom.  I sincerely hope that justice in served on behalf of Monica and all the people who loved her.

Number 21- RIP Stephanie Montez

We have lost our 21st trans person to anti-trans violence and the third in Texas this year in 47 year old Stephanie Montez.  She's also the second trans Latina we have lost in 2017 to anti-trans violence.

And yes Dan Patrick, Greg Abbott, Lois Kolkhorst and Texas Republican Party, her blood is on your hands.

She was found in a field off County Road 61 near Robstown, TX on October 21 with multiple gunshot wounds in the chest, abdomen and shoulders.   The reason I'm just finding out about this a week later is because the Nueces County Sheriff's Department misgendered and deadnamed her.

If it weren't for a Planet Transgender story  and her longtime friend Brittany Ramirez  speaking up and talking about her life in a Corpus Christi Caller Times interview , we wouldn't have known about this latest Lone Star State trans murder and the 21st in 2017 

PFLAG Corpus Christ is organizing a Trans Rights Rally in her memory on November 4. 

The Nueces County Sheriff's Department is still investigating the murder, and if you have any information on this case, you are urged to call the Nueces County Sheriff's Department or Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS (8477)

I'll also be keeping track of this case until justice is served.

Rest in power and peace, Stephanie.

Gwen Araujo Murder 15th Anniversary

Today is sadly the 15th anniversary of the day that trans teen Gwen Araujo was murdered in Newark, California by four men, Jason Cazares, Jose Merel, Michael Magidson and Jaron Nabors in the wake of them discovering after she was trans feminine at a party.

The perpetrators then drove four hours to an area in the Sierra Nevada foothills from the East Bay to bury the body, .and said nothing about the crime committed at the party. 

Nabors, after becoming distraught about his role in Araujo's death, confessed to authorities in exchange for his guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter, his testimony against the other three defendants and leading Alameda County Sheriff's Department investigators to the burial site.

It took two trials to convict Merel, Magidson and Cazares, and in the second trial the odious trans panic defense was invoked by Magidson's attorney.

Magidson and Merel were both convicted of second degree murder without the hate crime enhancements and sentenced to 15 year to life in prison.   Two juries deadlocked on Jason Cazares fate, and mistrials were declared.   In a plea deal with the DA, Cazares pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to six years in prison.

In the wake of the trial, the Gwen Araujo Justice For Victims Act was passed and signed into law on September 28, 2006 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that limited the use of the trans and gay panic defense.

On September 27, 2014, Gov Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 2501 into law that banned the trans and gay panic defense outright.

Gwen's story was made into the 2006 Lifetime movie A Girl Like Me :The Gwen Araujo Story, talked about in a 2007 documentary entitled Trained In The Ways Of Men which aimed to debunk the trans panic defense, and on a May 2012 Investigation Discovery episode in the second season entitled 'Murder Among Friends'.

Her mother Sylvia Guerrero posthumously asked a judge legally change Gwen's deadname to Gwen Amber Rose Araujo on June 23, 2004.

Rest in Power and peace Gwen.   Your death wasn't in vain.   Changes were made in california law because it it, and you are still loved and remembered by the local community and all who adored you.

We continue to fight so than no one should die for simply daring to exist.

Why Only 20 Trans Murders?

I've gotten questions as to why in my 2017 tracking of anti- trans murders on TransGriot, I have only counted 20 people killed.    I've also gotten questions from people who want to argue the point about Kashmire  Redd being the first trans masculine person killed in 2017

I know the original founder of the Remembering our Dead list in Gwen Smith, and I use her standards for tracking anti-trans murders. 

I'm also striving for accuracy as I compile this list of our fallen trans siblings since I'm quite aware that I'm followed by more than a few media outlets

One of the things we don't count in the overall total is police involved shootings.  Unless the police officer in question is indicted for murder, I can't legitimately consider that trans person's death via a police confrontation as a trans bias motivated murder.

It's why I don't count Sean Hake and Kiwi Herring's deaths in this year's trans statistics.   That's a separate issue with many variables in it.  . 

As per the Remembering Our Dead list standards, neither do I count suicides in my TransGriot  Remembering Our Dead count.  This may sound harsh, but a person who has committed suicide took their own life. A person who is murdered had their life snuffed out by another person or persons.

Suicide is also another separate issue with many variables, and shouldn't be lumped in with people who were murdered.  Neither should the folks who died via police involvement

Also, another mistake I see on the other lists that is a serious irritant to me is in Brenda Bostick being listed as Kenneth Bostick.

Brenda Bostick was trans feminine.  The New York City coroner who performed the autopsy on Ms. Bostick found breasts and a penis, so translation, she is TRANS FEMININE.

So please stop disrespecting Ms Bostick by listing her with a masculine name and correct your lists ASAP.

Another issue that has cropped up is Josie Berrios, who was murdered in Ithaca, NY  also went by the name of Kendra Marie Adams.    I've seen two lists that have listed BOTH names as if they were two separate people.   Nope, that's not the case.

I repeat, accuracy and consistency is important when we are compiling this list on people we memorialize for losing their lives due to anti-trans violence.   The Remembering our Dead list has met that test since 1999, and it's why I use their standards in reporting anti-trans murders on my blog.

That being said, here are the 20 people we have lost so far to anti-trans murders in the US.

***

Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, 28, Sioux Falls, SD
Mesha Caldwell, 41, Canton, MS
Jojo Striker, 23  Toledo, OH
Jaquarrius Holland, 18   Monroe, LA
Keke Collier, 24, Chicago, IL
Chyna Gibson, 31, New Orleans, LA
Ciara McElveen, 26, New Orleans, LA
Alphonza Watson, 38, Baltimore, MD
Chay Reed, 28, Miami, FL
Brenda Bostick, 59, New York, NY
Sherrell Faulkner, 46, Charlotte, NC
Kenne McFadden, 27, San Antonio, TX
Josie Berrios, 28, Ithaca, NY
Ava Le'Ray Barrin, 17, Athens, GA
Ebony Morgan, 28, Lynchburg, VA
Tee Tee Dangerfield, 32, College Park, GA
Gwenevere River Song,  26, Waxahachie, TX
Kashmire Redd, 28, Gates, NY
Derricka Banner, 28, Charlotte, NC
Ally Steinfeld, 17  Cabool, MO 

So far in 2017 we have lost 16 Black trans people, 1 Native American, 1 Latina, and 2 White
15 of the 16 Black trans people we have lost in 2017 have been trans feminine, 1 trans masculine. 

Breaking it down by age, 3 have been in their teens, 11 in their 20's,  3 in their 30's, 2 in their 40's and one in their 50's. 

 

Two Perps In Amos Beede Murder Facing Justice

Here's the update in the Amos Beede murder case.

Beede was the trans man killed in a Burlington VT homeless camp back in May 2016.   Five people, Erik Averill, Allison Gee, Myia Barber , Jordan Paul and Amber Dennis were arrested and charged with second degree murder for his death.

In March,  26 year old Allison Gee plead guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated assault in exchange for her testimony against the other four co-defendants.   She will serve five year in prison on a 15 year sentence, and be on indefinite probation for the remaining ten years of it.  If she violates probation, she goes back to jail to serve the remaining ten years of her sentence, 

On September 14  a plea deal was reached with 24 year old Myia Barber, who plead guilty to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter for her role in Beede's death.   She hasn't been sentenced yet, but is expected to get 10-15 years in prison.

She was set to go to trial later in September.

Two down, three to go.

Number 20- RIP Ally Lee Steinfeld

Got home to discover the 20th trans person of 2017 has been murdered in 17 year old Ally Steinfeld of Missouri

Steinfeld was originally from Licking, MO, but had moved to St Louis.    Steinfeld had returned to the area and was living in Houston, MO before she disappeared on September 1, eight days before her 18th birthday on September 9.

And yes, Ally was initially misgendered by local media.

Her family, alarmed that she hadn't returned their messages, started searching for her on their own via social media before report her missing on September 14.  They received information that led them to contact Texas County, MO authorities and check out a farm belonging to 24 year old Briana Calderas in Cabool, MO, 70 miles east of Springfield, MO

Steinfeld's burned remains and her cell phone were recovered on that farm. and Calderas, 18 year old Isis Schauer and 18 year old Andrew Vrba have been charged with her killing.

Vrba and his girlfriend Isis Schauer have been charged with first degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse.  Calderas has been charged with first degree murder and abandonment of a corpse

It is presumed that Steinfeld was killed by Vrba on September 3, who admitted he killed her in Calderas'  mobile home living room, and subsequently bragged about doing so 

The murder was grisly, with Steinfeld being stabbed multiple times, eyes gouged and had her genitals mutilated by Vrba.  Schauer and Calderas wrapped the body before moving it outside to burn it.  Schauer and Calderas bought items from two Walmart's located in Houston, MO and Mountain Grove, MO to aid the burning of Steinfeld's body.

Facebook messages between the trio led to the break in the case that Texas County law enforcement official needed to make an arrest.

A Go Fund Me has been started to aid the family with funeral expenses.  As of yet no word about a memorial service, but if I do receive word concerning one I will pass that info along as I receive it. 

And yes, will be keeping track of the legal case until our latest sister heinously taken from us receives justice.

Rest in power and peace Ally.

Number 18 - Rest In Power Kashmire Redd

Knew it was just a matter of time before we lost another trans person to anti-trans violence, and sad to point out that we have lost out 18th trans person and first trans masculine one of 2017.

28 year old Kashmire Nazer Redd was stabbed multiple times in the upper chest area in the early morning hours Monday morning during a domestic dispute by his partner in Gates, New York.    Redd stumbled out of the apartment on Cocchia Crescent and collapsed on the front lawn.

Gates PD arrived on the scene at 4:30 AM EDT and Redd was still alive when they arrived.  He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

His partner, 40 year old Doris Carrasquillo was arrested and has been charged with second degree murder in this case.  She has pleaded not guilty, and is being held in the Monroe County Jail without bail.

Redd is the 18th trans person killed in 2017, and sadly the first trans masculine one.   Once again he fits the ongoing pattern of trans people under age 30 dying due to anti-trans violence, and the 15th African American trans person who has been murdered this year..

I ask the question once again.   When will our Black trans lives matter to you, Black America?

As per usual, I will be tracking this case until justice is served.   If there is a memorial service, I'll pass that information on as soon as I receive it

Rest in power and peace, Kashmire.   We won't rest until justice has been served in your case.

Arrest Made In Tee Tee Dangerfield Murder Case

Happy to hear that an arrest has been made in the Tee Tee Dangerfield murder case  

To refresh your memories about the case, the 32 year old Dangerfield was shot in front of a College Park, GA apartment complex back on July 31 and died on the way to the hospital.

According to reporting by Nefertiti Jaquez of WSB-TV, 26 year old Tyrone Kemp has been arrested for the murder of Dangerfield.  He was arrested by College Park PD at the Union City car dealership where he works.

Investigators say they have evidence that proves Kemp was with Dangerfield in the moments before she died.

There's also video of Dangerfield leaving a nearby sports bar several hours before she was killed.

Now that someone has been arrested for Tee Tee's murder, here's hoping that if Kemp is the person who committed the crime, that he gets the serious jail time for doing so.  

Justice Being Served In Keyonna Blakeney Case

In the latest update in the Keyonna Blakeney murder case, .22 year old Keith Renier was found guilty of second degree murder and was sentenced by Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Marielsa Bernard to the maximum 30 year sentence in this case.  

The then 21 year old Renier fatally stabbed 22 year old Blakeney at a Red Roof Inn off Shady Grove Road in Rockville, MD back on April 16, 2016.


Five days before the encounter with Blakeney, Renier had pleaded guilty to pulling a knife on a Washington Metro subway platform in a case involving a simple assault and weapons charge and was awaiting sentencing.

On April 25 he was sentenced in that District case to probation and ordered to take anger management classes.  

According to court documents and a confidential informant's testimony to detectives in the case, Renier arrived at the Red Roof Inn along with a second suspect via an Uber paid for by Blakeney.
The second suspect arranged a false pretenses date with Blakeney with the intention of robbing her with Renier's help. The second suspect knew Blakeney and one of his relatives had dated her.

The room where Blakeney was found dead of multiple stab wounds was ransacked.

One down, one to go in the Blakeney case.   It's not life in prison, but Renier will be getting 30 years for killing our sister.  

Number 17- RIP Gwynevere River Song

While the Texas trans community is celebrating the fact that we killed SB 3 and other odious anti-trans bills during this Special Oppression Session, we are also lamenting the loss of the 17th person we have lost to anti-trans violence and the second Texan we have lost in 2017.

26 year old Gwynevere River Song was shot and killed following an argument in the Dallas suburb of Waxahachie, TX  on August 12.   The Ellis County Sheriff's Department is still investigating the murder, and as the details come out, will pass them along to you TransGriot readers

Gwyn was a 2015 graduate of the University of Texas, loved science fiction and her mother Marcella Mosher supported her transition. Gwyn also used they/them pronouns in addition to she.

And yes Dan Patrick, Lois Kolkhorst, Rom Simmons and the Texas Republican Party, her blood is on your hands.

Hee memorial service will take place in her native Waxahachie at the Wayne Boze Funeral Home on August 21, and the community is invited to attend.    It is located at 1826 US-287 BUS in that city starting at 2 PM.,

Tee Tee's Funeral Go Fund Me Page

Tee Tee Dangerfield was murdered earlier this week, and like many families in this situation, the unexpected death of a young family member has left them scrambling to cover the expenses for her funeral costs.

***

Thank you so much for stopping by this page to honor and celebrate Tee Tee Dangerfield’s life and legacy. 

The Dangerfield family would like to thank everyone who has expressed their condolences – and blessed us with their prayers during this extremely difficult time. 

Our family never thought we would have to bury our loved one – unexpectedly. 

Tee Tee was murdered on July 31st, 2017 around 4:30AM at an apartment complex in College Park, Georgia. Police say, someone shot her multiple times while she was sitting inside of her car. When medics arrived, they rushed her to the hospital, but sadly she died upon arrival. We know this story has touched many people in the Atlanta-metro area and across the country. Especially, those in the LGBT community. We want you to know your love and support has meant everything to our family. We also want you to know that Tee Tee was a prideful transgendered woman and happily supported her community. 

If you feel compelled to donate to Tee Tee’s Fund to cover her burial and funeral expenses, we would gladly appreciate it.  

For all those who a part of the LGBT community, in transition, scared of people’s perceptions know that Tee Tee would say – “Be fabulous, honey!”  

Our sincerest gratitude, 

The Dangerfield Family 
***
The GoFundMe page for Tee Tee has a goal of raising over $10,000, and hope that we can not only meet but exceed it..   Here's the link to it.

Number 16- RIP Tee Tee Dangerfield

Was just thinking the other day that it has been too quiet this month on the anti-trans murder front, and just before I went to bed last night I received word that we'e lost our 16th trans person this year to anti-trans violence.

Her name is 'Tee Tee Dangerfield, and according to reporting from the Georgia Voice, the 32 year old was found outside her car in the South Hampton Estates apartment complex suffering from numerous gunshot wounds at approximately 4:30 AM EDT on July 31. .

According to Major Lance Patterson of the College Park Police Department, she was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital by College Park Fire rescue, but succumbed to her wounds.

This comes just days after a rally was held in the ATL expressing support for the transgender community..  She is the 16th trans woman of color murdered in the United States this year, the 14th African American trans woman killed in 2017, and most infuriating to me, was under age 40.

This also comes in the wake of the transphobic comments of the so called 'comedian'  Lil Duval expressing his 'kill the t----y' sentiments on the syndicated the Breakfast Club show.

Anti-trans hate thoughts + anti-trans hate speech = anti-trans hate violence.

And I'm sick of my trans sisters dying.

As of this time there are no suspects in Tee Tee's murder, and if you have any information that will lead to the arrest, incarceration and conviction of her killer, please call the College Park PD TIp LIne at 404-768-8664

As of yet, have not heard of any vigils or memorial services being planned at this time for our fallen sister, and will pass that info along as soon as I receive it.

Rest in power and peace Tee Tee.   We won't rest as a community until the person who took your life is spending the rest of theirs behind bars.

Dee Whigham Killer Sentenced To 40 Years

Here's an update in the Dee Whigham case.

Just to refresh your memories since we lost far too many sisters in 2016,  Whigham was the 25 year old trans woman killed in a St. Martin, MS hotel room on July 23 of last year by 2 year old Dwayna Hickerson, a US Navy sailor based at the nearby Keesler Air Force Base.  

After corresponding for months, she and Hickerson had a sexual encounter that resulted in her brutal murder at the hands of Hickerson   She had been stabbed 119 times and had her throat slashed three times, , with many of the stab wounds being to Whigham's face.

Hickerson on Thursday accepted a plea deal in which he  pled guilty in a Jackson County court to second degree murder and was sentenced to 40 years in prison for it.   Hickeson also got 15 years for robbery, for stealing Whigham's purse and cell phone.

He was set to go to trial for Whigham's murder on August 14 on a capital murder charge,  and was facing the death penalty in this case.

Hickerson will have to serve 35 of the 40 years assigned for the second degree murder charge, and 8 of the fifteen years he received for the robbery charge.

Number 15 - Rest In Power and Peace, Ebony Morgan

Here we go again.  We've lost another trans woman to anti-trans violence.

For this latest murder we go to Lynchburg, VA.   The News and Advance of Lynchburg is reporting that   Lynchburg police were called to 303 Riverfront Avenue at 1:07 AM EDT Sunday morning to find 28 year old Ebony Morgan suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

She was transported to Lynchburg General Hospital where she was unfortunately later pronounced dead

Lynchburg PD as of yet is not investigating this as a hate crime, and as of this writing there are no suspects or persons of interest in Morgan's murder.

No information as of yet of any vigils or memorial services being held for Ebony at this time

If you are in the Lynchburg area and have any information in this case that will bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice, you are urged to call Detective A.O. Kittrell at 434-455-6170 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900  

Morgan is now the 15th trans woman killed in 2017, all trans women of color, and the 13th African-American trans woman to die this year.    Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow was Native American and Josie Berrios was Latina.

Rest in power and peace, Ebony.  The community won't rest until the person or persons who killed you are brought to justice.  

BTWI Statement Concerning The Barrin Murder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2017
Contact Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion D. Anderson  BTWI  Founding Executive Director
855-255-8636 Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Transwomen, Inc. is saddened that we must comment on the death of another trans woman of color in Ava Le'Ray Barrin.
 
What saddens and infuriates us as an organization that seeks to represent and empower Black trans women is that Ava was just 17 years old and hadn't even had a chance to follow her dreams yet.

And as usual, the Atlanta and Athens, GA media outlets reporting on the story once again played into the infuriating pattern of disrespectfully misgendering a Black trans woman in death.  

On Sunday June 25 Athens-Clarke County police responded to an 11:45 AM EDT call concerning an argument taking place in the Rivercrest Apartments on 1020 College Ave.   When they arrived they found Barrin lying in the parking lot of the complex suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 PM EDT.

Ava has become not only the 14th trans woman murdered in the US in 2017, she unfortunately is now the youngest one killed this year.   She is also the 12th African American trans person killed this year.

All 14 of the murdered US trans women are women of color, with two of them being Native American and Latina.    What also is distressing to us is that eleven of the 14 people we have lost this year are under age 40.

21 year old Jalen Brown is in custody in the Athens Clark County Jail without bail, and has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in this case.

A candlelight memorial service was held for Barrin Monday night, and funeral arrangements are pending at this time.  BTWI's Dee Dee Watters will be doing a Facebook Live moment of silence in Ava's honor starting at 9 PM CDT.

BTWI, our brother organization Black Transmen, Inc, the BTMI Atlanta Chapter, the Black Trans International Pageantry System, and Black Trans Advocacy joins your family and all who loved you in expressing our condolences for your far too soon death.

Rest in power and peace, Ava.

***

Black Transwomen,  Inc  is a national not for profit organization based in Dallas TX  that is part of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition,  a social justice alliance of the Black Transmen Inc, Black Transwomen Inc & Black Trans International Pageantry System organizations. BTA is committed to the advancement of black and trans people and the liberation of all disenfranchised people by working collaboratively to help end race and gender inequalities  

Number 14- Rest In Power and Peace Ava Le'Ray Barrin

It's my sad duty to report that another trans sister has been lost to anti-trans violence, this time in Athens, Georgia.

The latest addition to our sadly lengthening 2017 list of trans women who are being killed is 17 year old Ava Le'Ray Barrin.  As usual, a Black trans woman was misgendered by the local media.

According to reports from the Athens Banner- Herald and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, for still unknown reasons a fight broke out in the parking lot of the Riverview apartment complex in Athens early Sunday morning between Barrin and 21 year old Jalen Breon Brown .

The two knew each other, according to Athens Clarke County PD spokesperson Epifanio Rodriguez.

When Athens-Clarke County PD responded to the 11:45 AM EDT report of the altercation, when they arrived at the apartment complex at 1020 College Ave, they found Barrin lying in the parking lot of the complex not breathing and suffering from a gunshot would to the left side of her chest.

 Ava was taken to a nearby Athens hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 PM EDT

Witnesses told the arriving officers that Barrin was shot by Brown, who was still in the complex.  Despite claims of self defense, Brown was arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault, and is currently in the Athens-Clarke County jail with no bond.  .
 

A candlelight memorial service for Barrin was held in Athens at 7:00 PM EDT Monday evening,at the complex, and her funeral arrangements are still pending.

Ava LeRay Barrin is not only the 14th trans person killed this year, she is now the youngest trans woman to die in the US at age 17.   All 14 trans women murdered in the US this year have been trans women of color, with 12 of the 14 being Black   One person, Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow was Native American, and we recently lost our first Latina in Josie Berrios.

Rest in power and peace Ava.  You were just beginning to live your life as your true self, and were taken from us way too soon before you even had a chance to make your dreams become a reality.