DNA Doe Project Launches Subdivision, Trans Doe Task Force

On September 14, 2018 at 12:25 AM the Facebook page for Trans Doe Task Force went live. The task force is a division of the DNA Doe Project, a not-for-profit which uses genealogy testing to identify victims of: homicide, auto accidents, etc. After they announced that they would be working on the Julie Doe case, an unidentified transgender homicide victim from Florida, activist Lincoln Rose got in contact with Margaret Press (co-founder of DNA Doe Project).

Lincoln is an advocate and activist with Trans Cold Cases, an initiative which seeks to highlight transgender victims of homicide, that often go unnoticed. Through Rose's research, he has found that an alarming number of transgender homicide victims aren't recognized, as they are often misgendered by law enforcement; causing the exact number of trans homicides; particularly ones that are unsolved, to "slip through the cracks".

It is unknown the exact conversation exchanged between Press and Lincoln; however the Trans Doe Task Force most likely arose out of said conversation, after Rose had concerns about the exact reporting of gender and naming (posted on one of DDP's statuses), if Julie happens to be identified soon, along with other trans victims.

Trans Doe Task Force will most likely be handling the Julie Doe case as well as: Markham Ontario Doe, Dane County Doe, and Ocean Parkway Doe, although an exact list of cases have not been published at the time of this writing.

For more information, give them a like on Facebook at Trans Doe Task Force 

The Murder of Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum (SOLVED)

Quartney Davia Dawsonn-Yochum (also known as Kourtney Yochum) was a transgender woman who was murdered on March 23, 2016 as she walked her two dogs through Los Angeles' Skid Row area. It is believed that she was killed by gunshot by her ex-boyfriend whose name has not been released. She was thirty-two years old.

The murder took place at the 500 block of South San Pedro Street in Los Angeles, California at 1:20 PM. A mob, surprised that the murder happened in broad daylight, crowded around the killer until security guards took him into custody until police arrived. The motive for the murder was listed as an "intimate partner dispute"; however no further details were given.

Quartney lived at Gateways Apartments, as she tried to rebuild her life. Gateways is described as a one-hundred-seven unit permanent housing project for formerly chronic homeless individuals.

The Murder of Demarkis Stansberry (SOLVED)

Demarkis Stansberry was a thirty-year old transgender man who was murdered on February 27, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Demarkis was shot in the head by twenty-four-year old Nickolas Matthews, in what he claims was an "accident" after thinking he had unloaded all of his clip on New Year's Eve. Nickolas turned himself in to local police the day of the murder, later confessing to the crime. Demarkis was shot before 11:30 AM. Police entered the home to find Stansberry dead; pronouncing him as so at the scene of the crime.

Matthews is in custody at the parish jail on charges of: negligent homicide, illegal use of a weapon (Nickolas is a felon and is not legally able to own a gun), and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The motive for the murder is unknown; however according to Nickolas' brother Frederick, he claims he saw the murder weapon tucked into Nickolas' waistband, when he went to the home to pick up DJ equipment. At first Frederick claimed to have been in another room when the murder occurred; seeing an unknown perpetrator fleeing the scene but later changed his story to say his brother murdered Demarkis.

Despite an unknown motive, the murder was no accident. According to news outlets, Matthews had to have been standing next to Stansberry when he was shot, as the bullet entered his skull at point-blank range.

The Murder of Maya Young (SOLVED)

Maya Young was a twenty-five-year old transgender woman who was fatally stabbed on February 20, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by nineteen-year old Jose Pena and twenty-four-year old Tiffany Floyd.

Maya was found on February 20 by police on the 4800 block of Penn Street with multiple stab wounds to her neck and chest, still breathing, she was taken to Aria Frankford Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

It is unclear how Tiffany was caught; however Jose was ratted out by Tiffany, with police being able to verify that he was involved. The motive for the murder also remains unclear. Both are facing murder and conspiracy charges.

Transgender Woman Found Dead In Motel Bathtub-Was She Murdered?

Victoria Banks Cano was a transgender nurse originally from Pleasanton, Texas. On February 19, 2016 Victoria was found dead by police in a motel room bathtub at the El Mio on the 3500 block of Roosevelt Avenue. She was fully clothed with a little bit of water in the tub, but no obvious signs of trauma. Other patrons sharing the room with Cano were questioned; however the outcome of that questioning is unknown at the time of this writing. With no signs of trauma and no known statements from any of the other patrons, Trans True Crime asks "Was Victoria murdered? Or did she just die naturally in an unusual place?"

According to friends, Victoria was a certified nurse's assistant at a retirement home in Pleasanton. Despite working in Pleasanton, Cano had relocated to San Antonio, Texas in 2012.

Victoria is buried at San Jose Burial Park.

Is Kayden Clarke's Murder Actually Solved?

Today Trans True Crime will profile the case of transgender man, Kayden Clarke. Kayden is Trans True Crime's first trans male entry!

Kayden Clarke was a transgender man who became well-known on the internet when a video of him showing how his Rottweiler, Samson, helped him to deal with a breakdown. Clarke suffered from Asperger's Syndrome, a condition in which causes the person to ineffectively communicate and socialize with others.

After friend, Heather Allen called 911 asking police to check on Kayden, who had been sending emails to her complaining of suicidal thoughts, police responded saying they were already on their way. When police responded to Clarke's residence, without body cameras, they allege that Clarke ran at them wielding a knife. The cops felt alarmed, so they retaliated with gunfire; killing Kayden. He was just twenty-four-years old.

Clarke's mother, Stacia disputes police's claims; arguing that Kayden was not posing a threat when police came to his home; going on to say that the police barged into his home without permission. Soon thereafter they killed him for no apparent reason.

Samson, who was adopted by Kayden from friend, Heather Allen's HALO Animal Rescue shelter was taken in by his family.

With all of the hearsay from both sides, Trans True Crime asks the question, "Is Kayden Clarke's murder really solved?" 

The Murder of Jasmine Sierra (UNSOLVED)

Jasmine Sierra was a fifty-two-year old transgender woman who was murdered on January 22, 2016 in Bakersfield, California. She was found dead in her apartment on the 1000 block of Monterey Street by police who say her body showed obvious signs of trauma and that foul play is suspected. Police revealed that neighbors of Jasmine's heard gunshots and fighting from her residence; however police refuse to go into further detail, with the circumstances surrounding Sierra's death unknown.

A vigil was held on March 12, 2016 to honor Jasmine, as it took LGBT groups one month to realize Jasmine was murdered, because she was dead named by police and media outlets.

The Murder of Monica Loera (SOLVED)

Monica Loera was a transgender woman who was murdered on January 22, 2016 in Austin, Texas. Through using the website, Backpage to advertise her sexual services as an escort, Monica met her final client, a man named JonCasey Rowell. He shot her after he claimed "self-defense" alleging that after Loera asked him to get condoms from his car for their encounter (leaving behind his jacket and wallet in Monica's home in the process), when he returned Monica gave him his jacket but thought she had stolen his wallet (but it was in his jacket pocket). Angry, he went back to his car to retrieve a gun, which he used to shoot and kill Loera. He claims when he approached her door, she met him with a baseball bat, even though there was no bat recovered from her home. Roommates of Monica's heard a noise reminiscent of a firecracker; following with Loera saying "he shot me".

He most likely fled thereafter; returning home to his wife and then-ten day old baby. Described as a churchgoing tight-knit family with a love for guns, the state showed JonCasey's computer search history to jurors. The search history revealed an item from one day after Monica's murder which read "Approximately how many people get away with murder each year in The United States". Rowell then continued searching for transgender escorts. Thankfully no more people were harmed by this man.

Most likely caught from police searching his IP address, JonCasey was arrested and charged with murder. He was found guilty on November 6, 2017, in a trial which began on October 31 of the same year. Prosecutors asked for forty-five years; however Rowell was sentenced to only twenty years for the crime. 

The Murder of Lamia Beard (UNSOLVED)

Today Trans True Crime will be profiling the homicide of Lamia Beard, a transgender woman from Norfolk, Virginia. I didn't know Lamia; however this is personal for me, as Virginia is my home state.

Born on April 21, 1984 Lamia was a graduate of Lake Taylor High School, where she played in the marching band, later becoming a member of another band, the Norfolk State Spartan Legion Marching Band; well-versed in the instruments: flute, oboe, piccolo, cymbals, and piano. After graduation from high school in 2002, Beard was accepted on a full scholarship to Bethune Cook College. Fluent in French as well as English, she was fascinated with different cultures, often traveling to other areas. A music lover, Beard sang well, enjoyed dancing and was a pro with the makeup brush. Her favorite singer was Beyonce. Lamia is remembered as "walking in her truth as a genuine person and was wise beyond her years." She is loved by many for her humble and giving spirit.

On January 17, 2015 at four a.m. thirty-year old Lamia Beard was found on the 700 block of East 25th Street in Norfolk, Virginia on a sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where she later died. Unsure with a motive or suspect in Beard's death, police were left "scratching their heads" as just two-and-a half hours later an unidentified man was shot on a nearby street, but investigators are not sure if both shootings are related. The unidentified male survived his injuries.

A crowdfunding campaign was set up to raise two-thousand dollars for Lamia's funeral expenses. It is unknown if that goal was met; however a viewing was held on January 25, 2015 with the funeral service being held the following day. She was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia.

As of the time of this writing, no new developments have been made public about the case and it is still unsolved.

The Murder of Yazmin Vash Payne (SOLVED)

Yazmin (often spelled Yasmin) Vash Payne was a thirty-three-year old transgender woman who was murdered on January 31, 2015 in a dispute with her twenty-seven-year old boyfriend, Ezekiel Jamal Dear while they were in their Los Angeles, California apartment. To this day it is still unclear what the argument was about. Yazmin was killed by several stab wounds before having the apartment set on fire by Ezekiel.

On February 1 of that year, Dear confessed to the murder after turning himself in to police. Initially charged with murder, by October 2015 Ezekiel was charged with the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter; being found guilty by a jury and sentenced to twelve years and eight months in prison.

Is Taja DeJesus' Murder Technically Solved?

Born on this day in 1975, Taja Gabrielle DeJesus, an activist at Trans Thrive, a non-profit community center in San Francisco was very vocal about issues in the transgender community such as health and disparity. Described by Trans Thrive program manager, Nikki Calma as "always very bubbly and outspoken" Taja was "always the first to volunteer" going on to say "she just wanted to participate in everything." Nikki ends her statement by saying "She (DeJesus) was well-known and will definitely be missed." On February 1, 2015 Taja was found in a Bayview stairwell, murdered by stab wounds on the 1400 block of McKinnon Avenue at nine a.m. in San Francisco, California.

Taja was born in San Jose, California but later moved to San Francisco due to its more accepting nature of LGBT people. Her sister Erika says this was due to "the streets and dance clubs were more tolerant." Described by mother Pamela as "a strong-willed and giving young woman", DeJesus was active as a volunteer at a Bayview church and food pantry in addition to her work with Trans Thrive. 
A fiery and independent person, DeJesus filled out the paperwork at age fifteen-years old to get a job; taking the train without permission to San Francisco just to work. Taja, a music lover, used her earnings to buy her first stereo, a stereo in which would always play either Prince or Madonna.

Police suspect Taja's boyfriend, forty-nine-year old James Hayes of committing the murder, a motive which remains unknown. Unfortunately he committed suicide days later by hanging. James was located a half mile away from where Taja was found, hanging from his neck on a fence behind a warehouse. San Francisco Police Department spokesman, Albie Esparza isn't saying much about the case, except for that they're not ruling it a hate crime.

With all of this being said, Trans True Crime asks "Is Taja's case technically solved?"

The Murder of Penny Proud (UNSOLVED)

Penny Proud was a transgender woman who was fatally shot on February 10, 2015 at 1:30 AM by an unknown assailant in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Police are reporting that the murder occurred in the midst of a robbery on the 1100 block of Claiborne Avenue in the Treme District of New Orleans. No other details have been given about Penny's death and as of the time of this writing, her murder remains unsolved.

The Murder of Kristina Grant Infiniti (UNSOLVED)

Kristina Gomez Reinwald, known professionally as Kristina Grant Infiniti was a forty-six-year old transgender performer, well-known in the LGBT Miami club scene. On February 15, 2015 Kristina was found dead in her Southwest Miami home from what was originally reported by news station, WTVJ as a suicide but was later ruled a homicide by police.

Days before it was concluded by police that she had in fact been murdered, rumors were circulating on social media by trans activists that she was murdered by her boyfriend and or ex-boyfriend. Investigators revealed that there was no forced entry into Kristina's home; suggesting she knew her killer. This makes previous claims of the killer being her (ex)boyfriend plausible.

Shortly after Kristina's death, local trans activists held a candlelight vigil in her honor at the Torch of Friendship, a monument on Biscayne Boulevard at Fourth Street in Miami. As of the time of this writing, Kristina's murder remains unsolved. 

The Murder of Keyshia Blige (UNSOLVED)

On March 7, 2015 thirty-three-year old transgender woman Keyshia Blige was murdered in Chicago, Illinois while driving with a twenty-one-year old male friend. Keyshia, a performer who gravitated towards songs by Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston with some modern hits by Ariana Grande and Beyonce had begun medically transitioning from male-to-female in January of that year and was described by friend, Sasha Love as "the happiest I had ever seen her once she started transitioning".

Despite being murdered in March of that year, it took months for LGBT groups to take notice, as police and local media deadnamed Blige and referred to her by male pronouns. Another report still referred to Keyshia by her given name and pronouns; however they stated that she then-recently started taking hormones to live as a woman. It wasn't until close friend, Sasha Love went to The Guardian with claims that Blige was in fact transgender and was using female pronouns at the time of her death, that LGBT groups began to notice.

Keyshia who was driving the car on the 200 block of LaSalle Street when she was struck in the shoulder by several bullets, was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her friend survived after she tried driving to the hospital once struck, however she collided with a Jeep en route to said hospital. Her Navy Blue car crashed into a parking lot, where paramedics found her and took her to the hospital. Neither the car nor the friend were injured. Media relations manager for the Aurora Police Department, Dan Ferrelli issued a statement saying they are not investigating Blige's death as a hate crime but are investigating other potential leads. They have yet to confirm what these leads are but are saying that the shooting was "not random".

Friends and family say she was friendly to the male passenger; giving him a ride when asked the night before. The friends later said that this was symbolic of the kind of person that she was-helping others in need.

The Murder of London Kiki Chanel (SOLVED)

In May 2015 London Kiki Chanel, a twenty-one-year old transgender woman was murdered at an abandoned house in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Originally from Victoria, Texas, London moved to Pennsylvania several years before her murder; living at Covenant House, an LGBT youth shelter and crisis center in Germantown.

Raheam Felton, a thirty-one year old man plead guilty to third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime. He apologized for the crime. The reasoning for Chanel's murder was that she allegedly "snitched" about Raheam "sexually touching" her the previous year. Both inside an abandoned building on the 2200 block of Ingersoll Street, an argument ensued between the two over London's accusations of sexual assault against Felton. This led Raheam to stab her twice in the back and once in the neck with a pocketknife inside a middle bedroom on the third floor of the building.

Rahaem and an unnamed witness carried Chanel's body out of the house; placing her on the front lawn and onto quilts to perform CPR. The pair saw a School District of Philadelphia officer patrolling the area. They flagged him down, with him calling Philadelphia police, who took both Felton and the witness into custody. While in custody, Raheam confessed to the murder. Chanel was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital where she was pronounced dead shortly after one a.m.

Investigators believe London's murder to be domestic in nature and are not labeling it a hate crime. In June 2016 a judge sentenced Rahaem Felton to twenty-two to forty-four years in prison. 

The Murder of India Clarke (SOLVED)

India Clarke was a transgender aspiring hairdresser who was murdered on July 21, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. Originally reported to have died at a family-friendly park in Tampa from blunt-force trauma, it has been proven that India actually died from a gunshot wound to the head. She also had a gunshot wound to one of her arms but this was most likely not fatal.

It is unclear why Clarke was murdered; however through DNA analysis, her killer was identified quickly as Keith Lamayne Gaillard, an eighteen-year-old man. Keith and India were most likely at the park to have sex as a condom containing semen matching Gaillard's DNA was found in India's car, a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, parked a short distance away. Shortly after sex, India was killed by Keith; being found hours later by a maintenance worker who was doing some general cleaning of the park and its surrounding areas. The park, University Area Community Center was described as a "family friendly park". Investigators responded; finding Clarke on the ground dead from a gunshot wound to her head. A fingerprint on a cigar wrapper also matched Keith; placing him in India's car, a rental with New York plates; belonging to Hertz Rental Company.

My honest opinion is that India may have been visiting family or friends in Tampa from New York where she may have been residing. While in Florida, she met up with Gaillard, (whom was later revealed to have had a personal relationship with him); meeting him at the park for sex, as neither her hosts' nor Keith's home were private enough for sex. I imagine Clarke may have possibly performed oral sex on Gaillard with a condom. He may have wanted to progress further but a pre or non-operative Clarke refused; leading Keith to discover she was transgender. If this is true, she may have tried running from her car after scratching Keith's neck with her nails. An already armed Keith shot her out of rage, first hitting her arm, then shooting again, hitting her head. No shell casings were found at the scene but he was clueless enough to leave the condom and cigar wrapper behind. It is unknown if this "personal relationship" was strictly online and the night of the murder was the first time they met, or if it been physical between the two in the past.

Keith's DNA was most likely already in the system, probably taken from a previous arrest. When entering the DNA into a police database, it matched with Gaillard's DNA. Police confronted Keith, who had a scratch on his neck consistent with a fight. This adds up with DNA being found under India's fingernails. Clarke was likely shot with a .22 caliber revolver, consistent with one shown in a Facebook picture of Gaillard's. He allegedly sold the murder weapon to a friend for fifty dollars after admitting to the friend that he "may have murdered someone" with it.

Keith Gaillard was charged with first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a career criminal. He is being held on two-hundred seventy-five thousand dollars bond.