There have been no arrests after a gruesome discovery near a Detroit freeway: The charred torso of a transgender teen who had been reported missing, reports the Detroit News.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner's office has confirmed the death of 19-year-old Shelley Hilliard, a transgender teen also known as Treasure, after her mother identified her torso [Thursday] morning. The teen, who was born Henry Hilliard, went missing in the early hours of Oct. 23. The Medical Examiner's office received her torso later on Oct. 23.
Hilliard apparently met with foul play that morning, reports the Free Press.
A cab driver that Hilliard often used for rides dropped Hilliard off at a home where three men were waiting for her, his mother, Lyniece Nelson, said today. But Hilliard immediately called the driver back, voicing concern about the situation, Nelson said. The driver "started to hear her say, 'What are you doing,' then scream out loud 'No,' then her phone dropped, a few muffling noises, then the phone went dead," Nelson said. "By the time he got back around the corner, there was no one in sight."
"She loved her family, and she was well-loved by everybody," mother Lyniece Nelson tells the Free Press. "She was happy with who she was."
On Friday, Hilliard will be recognized in Detroit during an event in observance of the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, reports Monica Roberts.
In addition to being at the greatest risk of violence, the murders of Black trans women are often unsolved. Black transgender women face "extreme discrimination and poverty", and are more than likely to suffer from violence, physical or sexual abuse, police brutality, HIV/AIDS and bullying, according to a first of its kind survey conducted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Black Justice Coalition.
This is so sad! What can we do to help make sure these awful crimes stop happening or at least get thoroughly investigated?
Posted by: David | 12 November 2011 at 16:03
So sad...May they catch those monsters!
Posted by: Charles | 13 November 2011 at 09:09
That poor girl.
Posted by: Hope | 13 November 2011 at 14:46
THIS IS SO SAD AND GRUESOME!! I PRAY JUSTICE IS SERVED.
Posted by: BLACK | 13 November 2011 at 20:44
My heart goes out to her family, I can only imagine what theyr going through. Ive prayed everyday since I heard she was missing, now I pray her murders will be found, so theyr own personal hell can begin. So they can be exposed to their families as the monsters that they are. RIP beautiful girl, you will not be forgotten.
Posted by: Tara | 14 November 2011 at 14:24