Second Victoria C. White Murder Suspect Turns Himself In

The second suspect in the Victoria Carmen White killing in Maplewood, NJ turned himself in to the Newark Police late Sunday night according to NJ.com and Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert Laurino.

23 year old Alrashim Chambers turned himself in at the Newark Police Department’s 4th precinct and is also being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility on a $1 million bond.    Marquise Foster surrendered while accompanied by an attorney on Saturday night.

In addition to facing murder and weapons charges, they are also being investigated for a possible additional charge of a bias crime.in the murder of 28 year old White.

 Now that both subjects are in custody, the next phase can begin in terms of gaining justice for Victoria.

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One Suspect in Victoria C. White Case Turns Himself In

Seems like I was just posting the update in this case a few hours ago.

Now comes word in an e-mail from Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino Saturday that one of the two suspects wanted in the September 12 death of Victoria Carmen White has turned himself in.. 

Accompanied by an attorney, Marquise Foster surrendered to authorities at approximately 8 p.m. EDT Saturday.  He is being charged with murder and bail has been set at $1 million.

The po-po's are still searching for 23 year old Alrashim Chambers of Newark, the other suspect in this case.

I'd also like to remind you peeps in the area that there is a $2000 reward being offered by Garden State Equality for any information that results in the expeditious apprehension of Chambers

According to Garden State Equality legal counsel Leslie Farber, the reward being offered is NOT dependent on whether or not Victoria's murder is classified as a hate crime.  .


If you have questions or info that will lead to the arrest of the remaining suspect, please contact Leslie Farber
The E-Mail: contact is Leslie.Farber@verizon.net or you can phone Leslie at  (973) 509-8500 or (201) 390-6303.

One down, one to go. 

There The Philadelphia Po-Po's Go Again

"The victim, said to be in his 30's, was found with a pillow case around his neck. Homicide detectives believe that he was strangled."

And with those words, the Philadelphia Police erased the identity of Stacey Blahnik Lee and triggered once again the misgendering of a transwoman in the media.

Seems like just a little over a few weeks ago, I was writing about the same thing being done to Victoria Carmen White in New Jersey by the local law enforcement people there.

Now we have the same thing  happening to Stacey Blahnik Lee. 

By the way, the only reason I found out her actual last name in the first place was because the po-po's used her old male name in their initial press release.about her murder.

This isn't the first time the Philadelphia PD has had issues with African-American transwomen.

Back in 2002,  two of  Philadelphia's finest failed to get Nizah Morris safely home after giving her a courtesy ride from a downtown Philly bar during the Christmas holidays.  DA records have had to be subpoenaed and her family is still awaiting a satisfactory explanation from Philly PD for what actually happened that night    

There was the March 21, 2007 Erica Keel case in which she was run over repeatedly by an auto driven by Roland Bottoms but was questionably ruled a hit and run accident.

Now we have the Philly po-po's initiating the erasure of the identity of a popular and well known African descended transwoman  

So the question I have to ask the Philadelphia Police Department is what is your problem with transwomen, especially transwomen of color?

Whatever it is and whatever the level of transphobia is in your department, it needs to be dealt with.   There is a sizable population of transpeople in the Philadelphia metro area who have historic roots in the area and aren't going anywhere.   They are also part of the citizenry you are sworn to protect and serve.

The taxes we pay also help maintain the department and pay your salaries as well, and the last thing we want from our public servants is disrespect and erasure to go with it..