Remembering Our Dead: October 2017
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, as 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 October 2017.
I’ve also included details of 3 I know of lost to suicide (as the suicides of trans people tend not to be reported as such reports are few and far between) and one who died during a medical procedure by an unlicenced surgeon.
[TRIGGER WARNING: VIOLENCE. MURDER]
Bru Lima
Age 19
2 Oct 2017
São Paulo (Brazil)
Suicide
Bru was found dead by their mother when she returned from work. A suicide note was found in the house.
According to Facebook, Bru had married only 2 days previously.
Their Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/bruna.limaserrano
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/02/bru-lima-suicidio-sp-porto-feliz/ [DEAD LINK]
Name Unknown (x2)
5 Oct 2017
Belo Horizonte (Brazil)
Cause of death unknown
The bodies of two unidentified trans women were found in Belo Horizonte, according to information passed via Facebook and WhatsApp by the activist Milena Passos. Their causes of death are unknown.
http://redetransbrasil.org/homiciacutedios-e-oacutebitos.html [DEAD LINK]
Name Unknown
11 Oct 2017
Manaus (Brazil)
Cause of death unknown
The victim was found dead in Manaus, according to information passed via WhatsApp by Joyce Lorane. Their cause of death is unknown.
http://redetransbrasil.org/homiciacutedios-e-oacutebitos.html [DEAD LINK]
Michele
Age 47
11 Oct 17
Cuiabá (Brazil)
Shot
Michelle was shot in the neck by her partner after she tried to end their relationship. Local activists called the police after finding her body on the floor of her home.
Police state that she “died as a result of domestic violence and feminicide”. Her partner was abusive and in the past she had applied for judicial protective measures in the past.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/11/michele-47-anos-tiros-dhpp-mt-cuiaba/ [DEAD LINK]
http://www.folhamax.com.br/policia/assassino-matou-travesti-porque-nao-aceitava-separacao/142986
http://www.folhamax.com.br/policia/assassino-matou-travesti-porque-nao-aceitava-separacao/142986
Bragly Ordoñez
Age 27
12 Oct 2017
Bogota (Colombia)
Stabbed
Bragly was stabbed by the partner of another trans woman, apparently in revenge after having revealed that she had had an affair with him. She died 8 days later in hospital.
http://lacarinosa.rcnradio.com/noticias/travesti-fue-asesinado-centro-bogota-presunto-chism
D. E. Contreras Rodríguez
Age 31
12 Oct 2017
Bogotá (Colombia)
Stabbed
The victim’s body was found hanging from a giant tree planted in the National Park of Bogotá by two walkers at about 10 o’clock in the morning.
Her throat had been cut.
http://lacarinosa.rcnradio.com/noticias/transexual-aparecio-ahorcado-parque-nacional-bogota/
P.H.P. de Souza
Age 20
12 Oct 2017
Nanuque, Minas Gerais (Brazil)
Stabbed
P.H.P. was found naked from the waist down on the side road linking the town of Nanuque to the Vila Passos District. She had been stabbed deeply on the left side of her abdomen and shot in the head.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/p-h-p-s-20-anos-tiros-nanuque-mg/ [DEAD LINK]
https://minashoje.com/2017/10/corpo-e-encontrado-em-estrada-de-terra-em-nanuque-mg/
https://www.farolnews.com/corpo-e-encontrado-com-sinais-de-tiro-e-facadas-em-nanuque/
http://www.farolnews.com/corpo-encontrado-sem-vida-em-nanuque-e-de-paulo-henrique-p-souza/
J.C. da Silva
Age 30
13 Oct 2017
Cajueiro (Brazil)
Shot
J.C. was shot dead in the city of Cajueiro on a Friday night. The circumstances of her death are not known.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/13/j-c-silva-p-sexo-30-anos-tiros-al-cajueiro/ [DEAD LINK]
http://www.alagoas24horas.com.br/1099849/travesti-e-assassinada-tiros-em-cajueiro/
Bruna Rodriguez
14 Oct 2017
São Pedro (Brazil)
Stabbed
Bruna was stabbed.
Her Facebook profile is https://web.facebook.com/bruna.rodriguez.165
http://redetransbrasil.org/homiciacutedios-e-oacutebitos.html [DEAD LINK]
Romina Vargas Florentín
Age 28
15 Oct 2017
San Lorenzo (Paraguay)
Stabbed
Romina was working in the street on a Sunday afternoon when she was approached by a man who then stabbed her in the chest without saying a word.
Police patrolling the area found her lying on the ground injured. When she arrived at the Hospital Materno Infantil de Calle’i, the doctors confirmed that she had died.
Her murderer was apprehended by police and has confessed to the crime. According to the information released he had previously attacked another trans woman on 3rd October.
Like many trans women in South America, she had become a sex worker by necessity as a result of being unable to find work because of her gender identity.
http://www.cronica.com.py/2017/10/17/cuchillo-odio-mataron-tavesti/
http://www.abc.com.py/nacionales/cae-cuchillero-de-travestis-tras-homicidio-1640925.html
Name Unknown
Age 17
16 Oct 2017
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Strangled
The victim was strangled. No other information is known.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/nao-identificado-17-anos-estrangulada-rj-rio-de-jeneiro/ [DEAD LINK]
Nega Maradona
16 Oct 2017
Acarape, Ceará (Brazil)
Shot
Nega was shot at around 3pm in the afternoon. According to witnesses their killers made them kneel and then shot them in the head.
Information was provided by Thina Rodrigues, president of the Travestis Association of Ceará (Atrac).
http://redetransbrasil.org/homiciacutedios-e-oacutebitos.html [DEAD LINK]
Beatriz Presley (“Bia”)
Age 43
18 Oct 2017
Porto Velho (Brazil)
Cause of death unknown
Bia’s body was found by relatives lying on a bed in her home in the morning of Wednesday 18th October. She had been seen alive only the previous weekend. The cause of her death is unknown but one of the news reports suggests suicide.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/18/beatriz-presley-43-anos-ro-porto-velho-2/ [DEAD LINK]
https://jhnoticias.com.br/policia/suicidio-bia-presley-e-encontrada-morta-em-estado-de-putrefacao/
Fernando Lino da Silva
Age 21
19 Oct 2017
Maceió (Brazil)
Shot
Fernando was watching TV when two hooded men entered his house and shot him.
His Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004322837996.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/19/fernanda-lino-da-silva-21-anos-tiros-al-arapiraca/ [DEAD LINK]
Azul Montoro (“Blue”)
Age 26
19 Oct 2017
Córdoba (Argentina)
Stabbed
Azul was stabbed 18 times in the neck, chest and back. Her attacker was arrested after her mobile phone was found in his possession.
https://www.debate.com.mx/mundo/El-cruel-final-de-Azul-en-su-departamento-20171019-0075.html
Nathália dos Santos
Age 27
20 Oct 2017
Gurupi, Tocantins (Brazil)
Shot
Nathália was shot 4 times in the back in the early hours of the morning. CCTV footage from an office building next to where she fell showed that she was running away from her attacker.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/20/nathalia-27-anos-tiros-to-gurupi/ [DEAD LINK]
http://www.atitudeto.com.br/travesti-e-assassinada-no-centro-de-gurupi/
https://gazetadocerrado.com.br/2017/10/20/travesti-e-assassinada-com-cinco-tiros-em-gurupi/
Barbara Mendes
Age 22
21 Oct 2017
João Pessoa (Brazil)
Shot
Witnesses reported seeing Barbara arrive in a car with a client who parked the vehicle and then shot her as she tried to run away. He gave chase and shot her again before fleeing. She died at the scene.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/21/barbara-mendes-p-sexo-22-anos-tiros-tiros-pb-joao-pessoa/ [DEAD LINK]
http://portalcorreio.com.br/travesti-e-executada-apos-programa-com-cliente-no-centro-de-jp/
Stephanie Montez
Age 47
21 Oct 2017
Corpus Christi, Texas (USA)
Shot
Stephanie was shot in the chest, abdomen, and shoulder.
“She just had a great outlook on life. She was very supportive of everyone,” said Ramirez, 44. “… I’m hoping everyone has equal rights. It’s a human life regardless.”
“I don’t know why anybody would do this.”
A. Artunduaga (“Xiomy”)
Age 43
21 Oct 2017
Santa Fe (Colombia)
Stabbed
Xiomy was stabbed during a fight.
Hajira
21 Oct 2017
Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan)
Tortured and beheaded
Hajira was found brutally murdered and initially unidentified in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the morning of Saturday 21st October.
When found the condition of her body suggested she had died two or three days earlier. Her injuries also suggested that she had been tortured.
The local morgue refused to take her body because they said it would make their “freezers dirty”.
‘They [management] have told us that the body is too decomposed and it would make their freezers dirty,’ transgender activist Qamar Naseem told The Express Tribune.
‘We had asked the morgue’s management to keep the body for just one night and they even refused to do that.
‘Not only that, the government contractor has also refused to bury the body.
‘It’s extremely shameful the way a human’s body is being treated’.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1365397
http://planettransgender.com/decapitation-of-a-transgender-woman-in-pakistan-sparks-rage/
https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/body-tortured-beheaded-trans-woman-found-pakistan
On 13th November it was reported that a man had been arrested for her murder and had confessed to the crime. The same report also gave her name.
The accused informed the investigators that he killed transgender Hajira after she refused to make friendship [i.e. have sex] with him”.
https://www.radiotnn.com/police-arrest-murderer-of-transgender-hajira/
M. D. Delgado
Age 51
22 Oct 2017
Xalapa, Veracruz (Mexico)
Throat cut
M. was found dead early in the morning of Sunday 22nd October at her home in the Progreso Macuiltepetl neighborhood of the city.
She had a large wound in her neck.
Stefany Tablante
Age 27
22 Oct 2017
Boa Vista, Roraima (Brazil)
Stabbed
Stefany was stabbed 23 times by a client following an argument. She died at the scene.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/stefany-27-anos-facadas-ro-boa-vista/ [DEAD LINK]
http://www.folhabv.com.br/noticia/Policia-interroga--suspeito-de-assassinar-travesti-no-Centro/33467
Veronica Alves
Age 28
22 Oct 2017
Luziânia, Goiás (Brazil)
Shot
Veronica worked in a hair salon and was drinking with some friends when she was approached by a man who wanted to pay her for sex. She refused, and shortly afterwards she was shot multiple times from a passing vehicle.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/22/veronica-alves-tiros-go-luziania/ [DEAD LINK]
https://www.facebook.com/1708994492682297/videos/2015767215338355/
L. Guillen Rojas
Age 42
22 Oct 2017
Chilpancingo (Mexico)
Shot
L. was shot multiple times on Vicente Guerrero Boulevard next to a basketball court. She was originally from Acapulco.
http://sintesisdeguerrero.com.mx/2017/10/22/ejecutan-travesti-boulevard-chilpancingo/
http://sintesisdeguerrero.com.mx/2017/10/22/ejecutan-travesti-boulevard-chilpancingo/
Priscila Vasconcelos
Age 37
24 Oct 2017
Sobral (Brazil)
Beaten
Priscila was found dead at dawn next to a petrol station. According to the police she had a head injury.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/24/priscila-2-7-anos-tiros-ce-sobral/ [DEAD LINK]
Alessandra Rinaldi
25 Oct 2017
São Leopoldo (Brazil)
Suicide
It was reported that Alessandra died by suicide. No other information is known.
Information passed on by Marcelly Malta — Equality — RS
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/alessandra-rinaldi-suicidio-rs-sao-leopoldo/ [DEAD LINK]
Nayanne Rayalla (“Naay”)
25 Oct 2017
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Stabbed
Naay was stabbed during a fight with her aunt. She died at the scene.
“You are gone, undocked your boat from my dock and set off for an adventure in the clouds. She spread her wings, flew away, I can still see the glitter of her eyes as I look at the stars. You’re gone and I’m left, I’m sad, I’m gone, I’m in mourning. Only the gods know how much their departure has made me, and sometimes it still makes me suffer. Only they know how much I asked, how much I begged you to stay here with me.
You are gone, and besides the pain, I have left memories, great memories that still have a smile in the middle of a tear. You are gone and left a huge void. You are gone, but in spite of your absence, you have taught me to love your true friends and discard the false ones.” — Jhully Rayalla, 15 Nov 2017.
Naay’s Facebook profile is https://www.facebook.com/wanderson.silva.10048379
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/25/nayanne-rayalla-pauladas-rj-rio-de-janeiro/ [DEAD LINK]
Candace Towns
Age 30
28 Oct 2017
Macon, Georgia (USA)
Shot
Candace was found shot to death at the top of a driveway.
http://www.newnownext.com/25th-trans-woman-murdered-candace-towns/11/2017/
Niely Lafontayne
Age 30
29 Oct 2017
Macapá (Brazil)
Shot
Niely was shot in the face and abdomen by two assailants on a motorcycle when then robbed her as she lay dying.
Her Facebook profiles are https://www.facebook.com/niely.lafontayne and https://www.facebook.com/lola.aguilera.54.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/niely-lafontayne-p-sexo-30-anos-tiros-amapa/ [DEAD LINK]
https://selesnafes.com/2017/10/travesti-e-morto-a-tiros-no-centro-de-macapa/
Jiratchaya Kampoon
Age 22
29 Oct 2017
Pattaya (Thailand)
Brain asphyxia due to clinicial malpractice
Jiratchaya died from brain asphyxia after a lung collapsed during a botched breast enhancement operation by an unlicenced surgeon.
The surgeon (who was operating out of a legitimate-looking clinic) has been arrested and charged with manslaughter.
http://planettransgender.com/rip-jiratchaya-kampoon/
According to the bangkokpost Jittheerapirom doesn’t have a medical degree but felt sufficiently trained after observing the operation performed by licensed doctors.
Jittheerapirom was arrested on manslaughter charges which are punishable by up to 15 years in jail.
The outwardly impressive, confidence inspiring “Divine Clinic” which some Thai media referred to diminutively as “backstreet” was open for 8 months illegally after failing to obtain a permit in April.
Giseli Tavares
Age 25
30 Oct 2017
Itapissuma (Brazil)
Shot
Giseli had just visited a friend in Igarassu prison in Itapissuma when the vehicleshe was travelling in was intercepted by two men on a motorcycle. They ordered the other passengers out of the vehicle before shooting her.
She had left the prison four days earlier.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/30/giseli-tiros-pe-itapissuma/ [DEAD LINK]
M.B. da Silva Dias
Age 21
30 Oct 2017
Manaus (Brazil)
Stabbed
M.B. was stabbed in the face and neck. A friend said that her mother refused to accept her gender identity and had thrown her out of her home two months previously. A month later she had started trying to support herself through sex work. No one has been arrested so far.
https://homofobiamata.wordpress.com/2017/10/30/m-b-da-silva-dias-21-anos-facadas-dehs-am-manaus/ [DEAD LINK]
https://g1.globo.com/am/amazonas/noticia/travesti-e-morta-a-facadas-na-zona-norte-de-manaus.ghtml
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.
