Remembering Our Dead: February 2018
Every year on or around 20th November people worldwide gather for the Transgender day of Remembrance to to remember the trans people we have lost to murder and violence in the past year, the Reported by the Trans Murder Monitoring Project and published by Transgender Europe (TGEU) .
The following are details of the trans people known to have been killed worldwide during February 2018.
I've also included details of those known to be suicide where known, though most suicides tend to be unreported.
[TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE. MURDER]
<< January 2018
Anninha Ferreira Rochee ("Ana Carolini")
Age 22
1 Feb 2018
Colatina, Espírito Santo (Brazil)
Beheaded
Ana's body was found naked, mutilated and beheaded on a road in the district of Baunílha in Colatina on 7th February. She had been missing since 1st February [or 30th January - accounts differ] when she went to work for the city of Colatina.
Her Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/esmael.sethary.3 .
https://tribunaonline.com.br/travesti-e-encontrada-morta-en-colatina
JA Marín Marín
Age 26
1 Feb 2018
Soacha (Columbia)
Stabbed
Two women were robbed of a set of headphones by a pair of robbers. Both gave chase to the assailants, but while tackling them one was stabbed in the heart. She died in hospital.
Note that the date of the killing is not given by the news reports, the earliest of which is dated the morning of 1st February.
Natália Ketlyn
Age 24
1 Feb 2018
Campos Altos, Minas Gerais (Brazil)
Beaten and shot
Natália was killed in the middle of the street in Campos Altos. Witnesses saw her running and screaming for help from a man running after her making death threats. Natália was found dead, with a stone on top of her head and a wound in the region of the chest and ribs, probably caused by a firearm. The victim’s purse and a black wig were found near her body, but the killer was not found or identified.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/natalia-ketlyn-24-anos-tiros-mg-campos-altos/
https://www.patrocinioonline.com.br/noticia/travesti-e-perseguida-e-morta-em-campos-altos-22445.html
Celine Walker
Age 36
4 Feb 2018
Jacksonville, Florida (USA)
Shot
Celine was shot dead in a hotel room in Jacksonville, Florida. Initial news reports are dead and misgendered as a result of information provided by Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
https://transgriot.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/number-4-rest-in-power-and-peace-celine.html
Not long after I learned about the murder of Tonya Harvey in Buffalo, because of the misgendering of her by law enforcement and Jacksonville, FL media , I'm just now discovering thanks to reader Kayla Gore about the murder of the fourth trans person we have lost to anti-trans violence in 2018 and the second we have lost this week in 36 year old Celine Walker.
Walker, who was from Brandon, FL, was found shot to death in the room at the Extended Stay America on Skinner Lake Drive near St John Town Center. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was called after the Walker's body was found at 8 PM EST Sunday.
The reason the media has misgendered is because it started with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, who is claiming they have a policy that does not refer to victims as transgender.
Well Jacksonville Sheriff's Department, y'all need to deal with the reality that trans people exists, because it was not only disrespectful to refer to Celine as a man, not stating from the outset that a transgender female was murdered (see how easy that was Jacksonville Sheriff's Office) has delayed your investigation
Many of us in the trans community who know her do not know, do not want to know or do not care to know the trans person's dead name. If you tell us what your name is, we respect that.
And her Black trans life mattered.
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/02/trans-woman-shot-death-jacksonville-florida/
Hemilly
Age 18
6 Feb 2018
Garanhuns, Pernambuco (Brazil)
Stabbed
Hemilly was drinking at a friend's house. When she went out to buy a drink, she was stabbed in the left armpit. A friend found her and took her back to the house she had left moments before, but she died due to the severity of the injuries.
Before dying she identified her attacker.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/hemilly-18-anos-facadas-22a-dh-pe-garanhuns/
http://www.blognabocadopovo.com/2018/02/em-garanhuns-pe-jovem-de-18-anos-que.html
http://www.vecgaranhuns.com/2018/02/homossexual-e-assassinado-na-madrugada.html
http://jornalimprensadoagreste.com.br/v1/violencia-homossexual-e-morto-com-uma-facada-em-garanhuns/
Tonya Harvey (“Kita”)
Age 35
6 Feb 2018
Buffalo, New York (USA)
Shot
Tonya was shot in the street in late afternoon. Initial police and local news reports misgendered her.
“R.I.P Kita aka Tonya Harvey she was murdered this week and misgendered by media , i knew her since i started transitioning, she was so sweet and loving, always told her she was the black Cameron Diaz, Honestly i feel like im loosing all my trans elders to violence and drug abuse, we have to be more careful, do better and live better, this is so sad… sleep in peace angel.”
https://transgriot.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/number-3-rest-in-power-and-peace-tonya.html
https://www.advocate.com/crime/2018/2/08/transgender-woman-murdered-buffalo
https://mic.com/articles/187853/transgender-woman-tonya-harvey-fatally-shot-in-buffalo-new-york
http://buffalonews.com/2018/02/08/shepard-street-homicide-victim-was-transgender-woman/
Adriana Bonetto
Age 45
8 Feb 2018
San José del Rincón (Argentina)
Stabbed
Adriana’s body was found inside her house wrapped in a bloody sheet. She had multiple stab wounds on different parts of her body.
http://agenciapresentes.org/2018/02/08/travesticidio-asesinaron-una-trans-santa-fe-tenia-45-anos/
A. da Silva Silvério
Age 18
8 Feb 2018
Vitória de Santo Antão, Pernambuco (Brazil)
Shot
A. was shot in the head in the Maranhão neighborhood of Vitória de Santo Antão.
She had only recently arrived in the city from São Paulo state.
http://www.avozdavitoria.com/mais-uma-transexual-assassinada-em-vitoria-de-santo-antao/
http://www.blogdobrother.com.br/2018/02/homossexual-e-assinado-em-vitoria-de.html
Lohan
Age 17
8 Feb 2018
Vitoria, Espírito Santo (Brazil)
Beaten
Lohan was a trans man. He was beaten to death in Vitoria on 8th February.
Informações Whatsapp — Deborah Sabara — Afiliada ANTRA — ES
Milonga F. L. Martins
Age 47
9 Feb 2018
Pacajus, Ceará (Brazil)
Shot
Milonga was shot on her doorstep by by two men on a motorcycle.
According to relatives Milonga had been depressed after the loss of her mother and rarely left her house.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/09/milonga-f-l-martins-47-anos-tiros-ce-pacajus/
http://cnews.com.br/cnews/noticias/122342/duas_travestis_sao_mortas_no_fim_de_semana_no_ceara
Dominique
Age 35
10 Feb 2018
Uberlândia, Minas Gerais (Brazil)
Beaten and stabbed
Dominique’s body was found wrapped in a rug on Saturday 10th February on a plot of land on the banks of the Córrego do Óleo.
She was half-naked and had deep cuts to the face and arm. She may also have been beaten.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/10/nao-identificada-facadas-mg-uberlandia/
https://triangulonoticias.com/transexuale-encontrado-morto-com-cortes-profundos-em-uberlandia/
Nayra Wynndyston
Age 28
10 Feb 2018
Riachão, Rio Largo, Alagoas (Brazil)
Shot
Nayra was shot 5 times. Her Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/nal.unico.
“Always be optimistic. That’s the best way to live.” — Nayra, 15th January 2016.
A friend wrote this after hearing the news of her death:
“My God, I’m even speechless, I just came to know the night now … they did this bad thing with a person so good that I did not hurt anyone… I’m angry, I never imagined that it would happen soon you Nayra…I miss you friend…go with God…I intend to leave this city soon…many of my friends died here and now one more is gone…”
Tatiana (“Tetris”)
Age 32–35
10 Feb 2018
Santa Fe, Bogota (Columbia)
Tetris was stabbed in the street after an argument with another trans woman. She died in hospital.
Zenith Campbell (“Zena”)
Age 21
11 Feb 2018
Wellington (New Zealand)
Strangled
Zena was strangled by her boyfriend. Her body was found in a car in the central suburb of Aro Valley at about 1pm on Sunday 11th February.
Paddy Jonathan Woods, 30, has been arrested and charged with her murder. He had met her on a dating website a couple of months before. Her aunt told the media that the family had comforted the killer after her death, not knowing police suspected he was responsible for killing her.
Zena had been turning her life around before she died, her aunt Carol Campbell said.
She had struggled with addiction, but had just gotten onto a methadone programme two weeks before her death.
Campbell, who Zena lived with for more than five years as a child, said she had only ever known her as a boy, one she described as a “lovable ratbag” with a troubled past.
“[She] overcame a lot. [Her] life was a struggle. It was a struggle, especially, with ADHD. But [she] muddled through. [She] had a struggle with drugs, with injecting. [She] had just decided ‘that’s it, I’m going to get clean’, and he got on the methadone programme and two weeks later [she] was dead.
“[She] was starting to become happy, starting to get [her] life together.”
Campbell hadn’t yet met with Zena since she began living as a woman, and is deeply sad she never will.
She missed a birthday phone call from Zena on February 8. Zena was dead by February 11.
A candlelight vigil was held for Zena in Wellington on 20th March.
Organizer Bella Simpson said it was important to acknowledge Campbell's death, "that we say her name and give our community an opportunity to mourn together and remind each other how beautiful our transwhanau are."
"We're not America where women are consistently getting murdered and everyone's turning a blind eye. This is Wellington.
"This is not something that we stand for. It's not something that I say is within our values of who we are as a cultural, diverse city. "
Simpson said the vigil was also moving forward and showing members of the transgender community were supported and loved.
"We've lost someone from our family, we're going to come together and we're going to take some space and we're going to hold that space for each other."
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/transgender-murder-victim-was-dating-alleged-killer
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/man-charged-relation-death-zena-campbell
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/02/woman-found-dead-after-wellington-party.html
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12016004
Name Unknown
Age 25
11 Feb 2018
Fortaleza (Brazil)
Shot
The victim shot was shot by two men on a motorcycle while working on Pompeu Vasconcelos street, in Ellery neighborhood.
She was hit in the back by two shots and fell into a bar. According to a witness three customers who were in the establishment ran away fearing that robbery was in progress.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/nao-identified-25-anos-tiros-ce-fortaleza/
http://cnews.com.br/cnews/noticias/122342/duas_travestis_sao_mortas_no_fim_de_semana_no_ceara
Bruna
12 Feb 2018
Belém, Pará (Brazil)
Shot
Bruna was shot. Two suspects have been arrested, but no other information is known.
Group Information Affiliates ANTRA - Renata Taylor
Keila
12 Feb 2018
Potions, Bahia (Brazil)
Shot
Keila was shot twice by two men on a motorcycle in the Pituba neighborhood, on the banks of the Santos Dumont Highway (BR-116) during the night of Monday 12th February. She was taken to hospital but died of her injuries.
A 26 year old woman was shot in the same attack but survived.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/keila-tiros-dehs-ba-pocoes/
Misheel Ruidias Fernández
Age 26
12 Feb 2018
Ate, Lima (Peru)
Misheel was shot in the head during an argument at a party. At the time she was living in Spain and visiting Peru.
Her Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/misheel.ruidiasfernandez.9 .
https://trome.pe/actualidad/ate-transexual-crimen-balazo-cabeza-muerte-fiesta-fotos-75508
http://miquiosco.com/ver/43226-ate-transexual-crimen-balazo-cabeza-fiesta-75508
Name Unknown
12 Feb 2018
Geisel, João Pessoa (Brazil)
Shot
The victim was shot in the neck and died in hospital.
According to information from another sex worker who was working with the victim a client who had been assaulted had accused her of committing the crime and was responsible for the shooting.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/nao-identificada-tiros-pb-joao-pessoa/
http://www.wscom.com.br/noticia/travesti-acusada-de-assalto-por-cliente-e-baleada-no-geisel/
Bruna Ferrari
Age 17
13 Feb 2018
Concordia do Pará, Pará (Brazil)
Stabbed
Bruna was stabbed in the street in the city of Concordia of Pará. She was the second trans woman to be killed in the area in less than a month (the previous victim was an unidentified trans woman killed on 20th January ). Her killer was arrested.
Activists suspect that an extermination group in Concordia of Pará is acting to kill gays and lesbians in the interior. "It was a death tied to homophobia. In less than a month they killed two trans there, and there is information that this group is acting strongly," says the coordinator.
Bruna's Facebook profile is https://facebook.com/BrunaFerar.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/bruna-ferrari-en-esclarecer-pa-concordia-do-para/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/492121680905101/permalink/1528733713910554/
K. Silva
Age 28
13 Feb 2018
Manaus (Brazil)
Tortured and shot
This was a particularly horrific attack. K. was thrown from a vehicle with her feet and hands tied with tape and her mouth gagged before being shot 27 times.
According to witnesses her body showed signs of torture and so many gunshots hit her head that her face was left disfigured.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/13/nao-identificada-30-an0s-tiros-dehs-am-manaus/
https://amazonasnews.com/travesti-e-executado-com-tiros-na-cabeca-em-rua-do-distrito/
http://imediatoonline.com/post/travesti-e-jogado-de-veiculo-e-executado-em-rua-do-distrito-industrial-ii [TW: GRAPHIC IMAGE INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT]
https://amazonasnews.com/identificado-corpo-de-homossexual-assassinado-com-mais-de-25-tiros-em-manaus/ [TW: GRAPHIC IMAGES INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT]
C. Antuán
Age 30
13 Feb 2018
León, Guanajuato (Mexico)
Beaten and shot
C. was beaten and then shot. Her body found on an abandoned building in the San Martín de los Porres neighbourhood on the morning of 13th February.
https://periodicocorreo.com.mx/chapalita-travesti-asesinado/
https://periodicocorreo.com.mx/hallan-a-hombre-vestido-de-mujer-sin-vida/
Paloma
14 Feb 2018
Quinta Normal, Santiago (Chile)
Stroke
Paloma was admitted to hospital on 2nd February after a transphobic assault by her landlord. She died in hospital from a stroke 12 days later.
Paloma was a survivor of Pinochet’s Chile.
“I met La Paloma before the coup d’état of ’73 when the San Camilo neighborhood was from one end to the other, it was all full of brothels, a women’s house and a house of changemakers, as the transvestites were called at that time”, recalls Katty Fontey, president of TravesChile and promoter of various actions to welcome and integrate the older transgender population, perhaps the most vulnerable and forgotten group of the transvestite community in Chile.
Along with Katty, Paloma was one of the only survivors of San Camilo, that mythical place where the renowned collective of homosexual art “Las Yeguas del Apocalipsis”, by Pedro Lemebel and Francisco Casas, starred in a striking and unforgettable performance called: “La última dinner of San Camilo”.
Pérola
14 Feb 2018
São Paulo (Brazil)
Shot
According to witnesses, the victim was a sex worker who was hired by an off duty policeman who refused to pay for her services afterwards. They fought and he shot her dead.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/nao-identificada-trab-do-sexo-tiros-sp-sao-paulo/
https://www.facebook.com/paridadepressao/posts/2045457915482682
Ekai Lersundi
Age 16
Ondarroa, Bizkaia (Spain)
15 Feb 2018
Suicide
Ekai died by suicide after the Gender Unit at Cruces Hospital failed to prescribe him puberty blockers/hormone therapy.
Ekai was being followed up in the Gender Unit of Cruces Hospital but, despite the struggle of his parents Ana and Elaxar to get a hormonal treatment to stop his development, they had not succeeded. “The protocol is very strict and is conditioned by the opinion of doctors and psychiatrists. Normally, it is authorized from the age of 16 but for Ekai it is late “, denounce from the association, who demand that the start of the transit of these kids to their new identity is not conditioned by medical criteria. Nor did the training that the heads of the Basque Government had promised to give teachers and students of the institute where Ekai studied to avoid misunderstanding and humiliation. “They committed themselves in February of last year and they had not done anything yet.”
“The worst news, but we will continue fighting for the memory of Ekai and for those children and young people who are being denied their identity again and again,” explains Bea Sever, spokesperson for the association that welcomes families of transsexual minors.
Save the Children has also expressed consternation and support for the family, as well as demanding the need to guarantee the sexual identity and non-discrimination of transsexual adolescents. The non-governmental organization recalls that transgender minors are a “particularly vulnerable” group, which is why they deserve “special protection by public administrations”. “This protection must be based on equal treatment and non-discrimination, their mental well-being and respect for their best interests,” it said in a statement.
https://elpais.com/ccaa/2018/02/16/paisvasco/1518789270_034784.html
http://www.elcorreo.com/bizkaia/ekai-nino-transexual-20180216125040-nt.html
http://chrysalliseh.eus/2018/02/16/con-el-corazon-roto/
https://evarancho.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/in-memoriam-ekai-lersundi-2001-2018/
Laysla Oliveira
Age 18
17 Feb 2018
Ribeirão Preto (Brazil)
Beaten
Laysla was beaten to death at around 6am on on 17th February in a room at the Village Motel on Brazil Avenue in the city of Ribeirão Preto in São Paulo State.
Her killer fled the scene and attempted to drive along a railway line. He abandoned the car (which he had borrowed from his sister in law) when it became stuck. When finally arrested he resorted to victim blaming.
Laysla’s Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/laysla.oliveira.7359.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/18/laysla-oliveira-espancamento-2o-dp-sp-ribeirao-preto/
https://www.facebook.com/MARIAHAGATHALIMA/posts/1825296187494193
Name Unknown (x3)
17 Feb 2018
Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas (Mexico)
Shot
On the morning of Saturday 17th February a burnt out car was reported in an orchard.
Upon arrival the authorities found five people (three trans women and two cis women) shot dead on the road outside the car.
http://www.latarde.com.mx/dosmujeresytrestravestislosejecutadosennuevopadilla-467671.html
http://www.elpinerodelacuenca.com.mx/masacran-5-2-mujeres-3-travestis/
Amanda Rios
Age 23
19 Feb 2018
Joao Pessoa (Brazil)
Shot
Amanda was shot and her body found on Jacarapé beach on the south coast of Joao Pessoa on the morning of 19th February.
Her Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/amanda.rios.5070276.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/19/amanda-rios-23-anos-tiro-pb-joao-pessoa/
http://portalcorreio.com.br/jovem-morta-com-tiro-na-boca-era-uma-travesti-diz-policia/
https://www.portaltvcariri.com.br/perdi-meu-filho-para-os-outros-diz-mae-de-transexual-morta-em-jp/
Eduarda Brasil
Age 21
19 Feb 2018
Arraras, São Paulo (Brazil)
Cause of death unknown
Eduarda was found dead in the Belvedere Garden at dawn on Monday 19th February, without a bag or cell phone. She had no marks of violence on her body, but did have a bruise on the chin and minor abrasions on the arm and knee.
The case was registered as a “suspicious death”.
https://reporterbetoribeiro.com.br/policia-civil-investiga-morte-de-travesti-em-araras-sp/
E. Carrell Ray
Age 70
19 Feb 2018
Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
Beaten
E. Carrell Ray and her housemate Zakaria Fry went missing on 18th January. Their home was in a state of disarray, with blood splatter marks and bloodstained towels found on the property.
Zakaria’s sister identified E. Carrell Ray to be a non-transitioned transgender woman, but E. Carrell Ray’s family denies this is the case.
On 31st January their case was classified as a homicide by detectives from the Albuquerque New Mexico Police Department, and on 19th February a Santa Fe rancher discovered one of the bodies in a garbage can on his ranch.
Authorities reported that both victims were male but the witness claims the body he found (presumably this was Zakaria) was female. The second victim (presumably E. Carrell Ray) was found about 2 miles away. Both died from blunt force trauma to the head and face.
On 1st March the police arrested arrested 32-year-old Charles Spiess and charged him with two counts of murder.
http://www.transnetworking.com/possible-double-transgender-murder-end-january-2018/
Zakaria Fry and Carrell Ray had been missing since Jan. 18, 2018. Ms Fry was out to everyone including her family as a transgender woman who rented a room from Ms Ray. Britney Willis, the sister of Ms Fry tells us “the roommate, [her] name is [male name omitted] Carrell Ray and [she] is also transgender.” The children of Carrell Ray went to investigate after some time had passed without any contact from Ms Ray. Det. Drobik tells us “They found the home in disarray suggesting to the police that Carrell and Zakaria could be in danger, by Jan 30th we were sure that we were looking at a body retrieval rather than a missing person. A missing person report was filled but authorities and family members feared the worst.”
https://transgriot.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/number-5-rest-in-power-zakaria-fry.html
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/02/body-missing-transgender-woman-found-new-mexico
https://www.abqjournal.com/1126988/apd-looking-for-missing-woman-who-may-be-in-danger.html
http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/police-seek-publics-help-in-missing-person-case/4766932/
http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/bodies-found-are-those-of-two-missing-from-albuquerque/4806232/
Zakaria Fry
Age 28
19 Feb 2018
Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)
Beaten
Zakaria and her housemate E. Carrell Ray went missing on 18th January. Their home was in a state of disarray, with blood splatter marks and bloodstained towels found on the property.
Zakaria’s sister identified E. Carrell Ray to be a non-transitioned transgender woman, but Carrell Ray’s family denies this is the case.
On 31st January their case was classified as a homicide by detectives from the Albuquerque New Mexico Police Department, and on 19th February a Santa Fe rancher discovered one of the bodies in a garbage can on his ranch.
Authorities reported that both victims were male but the witness claims the body he found (presumably this was Zakaria) was female. The second victim (presumably E. Carrell Ray) was found about 2 miles away. Both died from blunt force trauma to the head and face.
On 1st March the police arrested arrested 32-year-old Charles Spiess and charged him with two counts of murder.
Zakaria’s Facebook account is https://www.facebook.com/sinfully.zakaria.
http://www.transnetworking.com/possible-double-transgender-murder-end-january-2018/
Zakaria Fry and Carrell Ray had been missing since Jan. 18, 2018. Ms Fry was out to everyone including her family as a transgender woman who rented a room from Ms Ray. Britney Willis, the sister of Ms Fry tells us “the roommate, [her] name is [male name omitted] Carrell Ray and [she] is also transgender.” The children of Carrell Ray went to investigate after some time had passed without any contact from Ms Ray. Det. Drobik tells us “They found the home in disarray suggesting to the police that Carrell and Zakaria could be in danger, by Jan 30th we were sure that we were looking at a body retrieval rather than a missing person. A missing person report was filled but authorities and family members feared the worst.”
https://transgriot.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/number-5-rest-in-power-zakaria-fry.html
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2018/02/body-missing-transgender-woman-found-new-mexico
https://www.abqjournal.com/1126988/apd-looking-for-missing-woman-who-may-be-in-danger.html
http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/police-seek-publics-help-in-missing-person-case/4766932/
http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/bodies-found-are-those-of-two-missing-from-albuquerque/4806232/
Rayana Ribeiro
20 Feb 2018
João Pessoa, Paraíba (Brazil)
Shot
Rayana was shot. No other information is known.
Bia Rocha
22 Feb 2018
Recife, Pernambuco (Brazil)
Cause of death not reported
Bia was found dead under a viaduct.
A friend, a well-known girl who was a victim of violence….
One more…
Bia was your name…
Pernambuco makes her the 4th victim of transphobia. Found dead under the viaduct overpass…
Every time we met, it was a party, she was always beautiful. I always imagine that at any moment I can get the news of someone who was part of my story being a victim of transphobia, but I didn’t expect this news. Goodbye friend….
Her Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=721816695.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/22/bia-rocha-a-esclarecer-pe-recife/
Claudia Oliveira
Age 26
22 Feb 2018
Porto Velho, Rondônia (Brazil)
Shot
Claudia was shot and killed by drug traffickers at Porto Velho, in São Gonçalo.
According to local residents, a black car arrived with the her and another victim at around 10am. He was shot in one hand but managed to escape, but she was eventually executed.
Afterwards Claudia's father arrived and could not hold back his tears when he saw his daughter. "She was a very kind person, made fast and very cheerful friendships. I was with her last week, on her birthday. I arrived today to work and when they told me that there was a dead person here, I do not know why, but at the time I felt it could be her, father instinct, I can not explain,” he lamented.
Cynthia Moreira
Age 25
22 Feb 2018
San Miguel de Tucumá (Argentina)
Dismembered
Cynthia’s decomposed and partially dismembered body was found in grassland at the back of an uninhabited house in Villa Alem, a neighborhood in the southern part of the provincial capital.
Her body was in such a state that she was not identified until 18th April.
She had been missing since 14th February.
Today, from the dissemination of a story in the newspaper La Gaceta saying that it could be the young woman, one of Cynthia’s sisters wrote this message:
“To all our family and friends of Cynthia: the body is unrecognizable. Only a DNA test can confirm whether it is my sister. The people who take the case told me that they do not even know what Cynthia is, how the La Gaceta will know.”
“We still do not know who the murdered person is. They say she’s a trans girl but we do not know. I know Cynthia, and we’re waiting for her to appear. What we do know is that the girls of Tucumán are constantly in danger. In addition to feeling the anguish that they are killing us, that they die friends and acquaintances, because we are trans we are afraid of going out into the street, sometimes of going to the center to work. I do not know if I’m going back. I am afraid and it is not a sensation, it is a reality: they are killing us, they are destroying our bodies and our lives”, Mahia Moyano, an activist with LOTO (Freedom and Pride Trans Organized), told Presentes.
Tucumán, one of the most violent provinces
Tucumán is one of the most violent provinces in Argentina for trans people. LOTO emerged after the travesticide of Ayelén Gómez, perpetrated in August 2017. Her brutally murdered body was found under the stands of Lawn Tenis before a rugby match. Some time ago, Ayelén had denounced police officers for raping her.
In January in Tucumán, another trans woman was murdered savagely: Lourdes Reinoso.
[READ ALSO: Tucumán: a young trans and her great aunt were murdered ]
Before the wave of violence, trans people, LOTO and other organizations marched on February 7 to say enough of transvesticidios and transfemicidios, demand that the gender identity law is fulfilled, and ask for a law of trans work quota.
[# Tucumán “We ask for Justice for all: not one trans less, live we want” ]
A month later, they also marched with the slogan Ni Una Trans Menos. At that point the friends and family were still looking desperately for Cynthia.
[READ MORE: March in Tucumán: “Without the trans, there is not one less” ]
http://agenciapresentes.org/2018/02/23/hallan-cuerpo-desmembrado-investigan-una-joven-trans/
http://agenciapresentes.org/2018/02/23/hallan-cuerpo-desmembrado-investigan-una-joven-trans/
Phylicia Mitchell
Age 45
23 Feb 2018
Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Phylicia died after being shot in the chest about 6 p.m. inside her home on West 112th Street near Detroit Avenue, in the city’s Edgewater neighbourhood.
Police reports state that officers found her dead on the living room floor with one arm slumped on the couch.
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2018/02/transgender_woman_killed_in_cl.html
A 45-year-old transgender woman shot and killed Friday will be remembered for her devotion to hair styling and being a loving and caring partner and friend, despite battling drug addiction for most of her life, her longtime partner said.
http://www.cleveland.com/crime/index.ssf/2018/02/cleveland_police_identify_vict.html
https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/featured/phylicia-mitchell-another-trans-woman-murdered/
Kimberlys Ochoa
Age 19
24 Feb 2018
Barquisimeto, Lara (Venezuela)
Beaten
Kimberlys was beaten and thrown into an open grave at Bella Vista Cemetery. After being discovered unconscious on the morning of Thursday 22nd February she was taken to hospital but died 2 days later.
Kimberlys had transitioned when she was 15.
Yamileth [her mother] says that when it was 6:00 PM on Wednesday, Kimberlys sent her a message explaining that she was at the Passenger Terminal in Barquisimeto, and that she could not find a bus to go to Yaracuy.
“My daughter sent me a message that she was waiting for a bus, but he did not find any, I worried and told her I was going to wait, but my cell phone was discharged because she had taken the charger,” he said.
At dawn on Thursday she went to a neighbour’s house, borrowed the cell phone battery and received a text message from Blayerson sent at 9 o’clock on Wednesday evening.
“Mom, I’m still in the terminal, I still do not get a taxi. I’m afraid because people look at me as if they want to hurt me, “the young woman wrote.
Without wasting time the lady got on a bus with her two-year-old daughter and arrived at the passenger terminal. Desperate she went to the bus stop that goes to Yaracuy but there they informed her that they did not know anything about her daughter.
“As I did not have a ticket, I returned to Yaracuy, but on Friday morning my family supported me to look for her and we came to the hospital and found her in emergency,” she said.
http://www.laprensalara.com.ve/?p=410785
Fernanda Dias (“Pit”)
Age 29
27 Feb 2018
São Mateus (Brazil)
Shot
Fernanda was shot multiple times from a passing vehicle. She was a hairdresser, and one of the reports suggests that she may have been killed in error.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2018/02/27/fernanda-dias-cabeleteira-tiros-es-sao-mateus/
March 2018 >>
Rest in peace. We will not forget.
TDoR 2018: Say their names. Learn their stories. Remember them
With thanks to the many volunteers reporting acts of violence against trans people worldwide, and in particular to Transgender Europe and the members of the Trans Violence News Facebook group.
