Home Digital Library Researching Native LGBTQ Hate Crime Murders
Native LGBTQ Hate Crime Murders PDF  | Print |  E-mail
Written by NativeOUT   
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 00:00

NativeOUT honors the memories of all Native LGBTQ/Two-Spirit that have fallen victim to hate crime murder. Among Native people, transgenders and gay men suffer the majority of hate crime violence.

Beginning in November 1999, the Transgender Day of Remembrance has been observed in many cities worldwide. In vigils and memorial services, LGBTQ communitys everywhere honor the memory of persons murdered in the years past. Certainly the total number is much greater than these reported cases. Please contact http://www.rememberingourdead.org if you feel that a murdered transgender should be added to the Day of Remembrance list. If you wish to attend a Transgender Day of Remembrance event, visit http://www.rememberingourdead.org/day/where.html to find the event closest to you.

Listed below are individuals who have fallen victim to hate crime murder. If you know of other Native LGBTQ/Two-Spirit that were victims of hate crime murder, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or use our contact form. If you have any information on any unsolved hate crimes, please contact your local police department.

 

Amy Soos (Salt River Pima/Maricopa)
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Cause of Death: Died of multiple blunt force trauma
Date of Death: February 16, 2002
Source: Phoenix, Arizona police report
Notes: Amy Soos lived all her life on the Salt River Pima Indian Reservation in Arizona, but often went into Phoenix in the evenings. After not returning home one such night, her body was discovered in a roadway. She died of multiple blunt force trauma. She had been beaten many other times before her death.
Website source: http://www.rememberingourdead.org

Fred "F.C." Martinez, Jr. (Navajo)
Location: Cortez, Colorado
Cause of Death: Bludgeoned to the head.
Date of Death: June 16, 2001
Source: Denver Post, July 6, 2001
Notes: On June 21, Fred Martinez, Jr., a 16-year-old, Native American high school student - who described himself as openly gay and "two-spirit" - was found beaten to death on June 21st. The badly decomposed body of 16-year-old Fred Martinez Jr. was found near the sewer ponds south of Cortez by two young boys who were playing in the area. Martinez's body had been there nearly a week. Autopsy results suggest Martinez had been bludgeoned. This crime was solved.
Website source: http://www.rememberingourdead.org
Websites with more info:
http://www.temenos.net/remember/martinez/
http://www.glaad.org/action/calls_detail.php?id=2957
http://www.fuah.org/fuah_cortez.html
http://www.twospirits.org

Alejandro Ray Lucero (Hopi)
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Cause of Death: Death by strangulation and blunt force trauma to the neck
Date of Death: March 3, 2002
Source: Phoenix, Arizona police report
Website source: http://www.rememberingourdead.org
Notes: 25-year-old Alejandro Lucero was found near 18th Street and Thomas Road in Phoenix. According to police reports, it was death by strangulation and blunt force trauma to the neck.
Website with more info: http://cronkitezine.asu.edu/archives/stories/lostsouls03.html


Terri Benally (Navajo)
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Cause of Death: Beaten to death
Date of Death: July 7, 2009
Source: Albuquerque Journal
Notes: Terri Benally, 42, was found beaten to death in the 500 block of Maple SE in Albuquerque, New Mexico at 1am on July 7, 2009. Terri is the third transgender Navajo murdered in this area since 2004. Frederick Watson, 32, was killed June 9 this year and Ryan Shey Hoskie, 23, was found beaten to death December 27, 2004. If you have any information on this murder, please call the
Albuquerque Police Department at (505) 843-STOP.
Website with more info: http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/crime_krqe_albuquerque_cross_dresser_murdered_in_albuquerque_200907072204


Frederick "Kelly" Watson (Navajo)
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Cause of Death: Murdered
Date of Death: June 9, 2009
Source: Albuquerque Journal
Notes: Frederick Watson, 32, was killed June 9 this year. If you have any information on this murder, please call the
Albuquerque Police Department at (505) 843-STOP.
Website with more info: Obituary in the Gallup Independent http://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/06June/061809deaths.html


Ryan Shey Hoskie (Navajo)
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Cause of Death: Undetermined; body did show signs of upper body trauma.
Date of Death: December 27, 2004
Source: Albuquerque Tribune, January 8, 2005
Notes: Ryan Shey Hoskie, 23, was found partially-undressed an alley. If you have any information on this murder, please call the
Albuquerque Police Department at (505) 843-STOP.
Websites with more info: None


Frank Yazzie (Navajo)
Location: Gallup, New Mexico
Cause of Death: Murdered
Date of Death: July 2009
Source: Gallup Independent, July 4, 2009 and Gallup Herald
Notes: Frank Yazzie's (43) torso was severed from his lower body. Crimestoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Crimestoppers in Gallup can be reached at (505) 722-6161.
Websites with more info: http://www.gallupindependent.com/2009/07July/070409severedbody.html

Possible Hate Crimes:

steward_bryantSteward Bryant (Navajo)
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Cause of Death: Murder
Date of Death: June 6, 2009
Source: Equality Arizona Blog and ABC15.com
Notes: Twenty-Nine year old Steward Bryant was killed at approximately 3:43AM on Saturday, June 6th at 4800 North 7th Avenue in Phoenix. He was last seen at Charlie’s Bar located at 727 West Camelback Road. Police are asking for those with any information to call Silent Witness and are offering an award of up to $1,000 for any information leading up to the arrest and/or indictment of this crime. Silent Witness can be reached at 480.948.6377 or toll free at 1.800.343.TIPS. If you have any information about the Steward Bryant homicide please contact Silent Witness immediately.
Websites with more info: http://www.abc15.com/content/news/phoenixmetro/central/story/Phoenix-PD-offering-up-to-1-000-in-murder-case/RpF84mhn6kq8vz6QaM_1Ow.cspx



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Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 April 2010 23:13