And if you or anyone you know is being bullied, call the Transgender Law Center for help at 415-865-0176. The Gwen Araujo murder trial begins in a Hayward courtroom. [20] Brown suggested that one of them should inspect Araujo, and Magidson took Araujo to the bathroom. Gwen Araujo was a transgender teenager from the SF Bay Area who was killed 20 years ago by men who claimed they were deceived by her sexual identity. She was calm about it.. At a vigil later that evening at the LGBT Center in San Francisco, advocated lamented the men were not convicted of first-degree murder but still called the verdict a huge victory for the transgender rights. [69] The fund was closed sometime before September 2020. The men had claimed a gay/trans panic, a murder defense later made illegal in California in Gwens name with the help of Guerreros activism. Make Muse | For Smart + Creative Young Women. The first trial started on April 14, 2004 and ended in a hung jury against Magidson, Merel and Cazares. Araujo's remains are cremated. "It is for this witness' safety," Sheppard said, during a meeting with journalists in his office. but none of the four men took the thought seriously. [50], The second trial began on May 31, 2005. [10], The first trial began on April 14, 2004. Nabors said Cazares and Magidson had first brought Araujo, whom the group knew as an attractive 19-year-old named "Lida," to the Merel home in late August or early September 2002. Guerrero has few possessions at this point, but she holds on to the lessons Gwen taught her. [17][21] Brown was surprised and blurted out, "It's a f man! She fought like a guy. At least 48 trans people were killed in 2021, making it the deadliest year for transgender people in the United States, where the majority of victims are Black and Latinx. He also said that he and Jose Merel had been alone in a bedroom with Araujo, where they engaged in some flirtatious petting. HAYWARD / Witness tells of friends' anger at being duped / He HAYWARD / Araujo begged for mercy, witness says, THIS IS A HANDOUT IMAGE. [78][79][80] AB 2501 was introduced by Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla in partnership with Equality California. NEWARK, Calif. (KGO) -- She was killed 20 years ago. [61], Jos Merl was granted parole in 2016 with the support of Sylvia Guerrero. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. The people who alleged to be Araujo's friends often speculated whether or not she was actually a female. In the fall of 2002, Araujo met Michael Magidson, 22, who invited her to hang out with his friends. She transferred to an alternative high school, but did not return for the 200203 academic year. One of the defense attorneys explained the last question had specifically asked if prospective jurors had watched the film Boys Don't Cry or the play The Laramie Project, but was changed over defense concerns that by being so specific, those who had not would be prompted to watch them. [52] He asked the jury to return first-degree murder convictions of Magidson and Cazares, fingering Magidson as the main culprit who had strangled Araujo and calling him "a poor excuse for a man" with a "stupid and moronic" list of excuses for murdering her. [34][49] While the jury agreed that Araujo had been murdered, they could not agree whether it was premeditated. "[22], After Araujo was brought back into the house, Magidson grabbed at her skirt and underwear in an attempt to expose her genitals. [11] The night they met Araujo, she flirted with all four men and they smoked marijuana together. Here's what happened to Gwen Araujo, a transgender teen from the San Francisco Bay Area. Magidson was called out for being unrepentant at his sentencing and still has not shown remorse, according to Guerrero. During the trial, the defense maintained that Araujo deceived the men into non-consensual sex by not revealing her biological gender and that the men reacted out of rage when they killed her. While Merl expressed deep sorrow and regret to Araujo's family, Magidson was angry about his verdict and expressed "no remorse" for his role in murdering Araujo, according to presiding Judge Harry Sheppard. Then while Araujo was in the bathroom, Brown went inside, grabbed her crotch, and reportedly shouted to the group, "It's a man.". Gwen Amber Rose Araujo was a teenager who lived in Newark, California. It was warm out, and the air smelled like basil from a nearby farm. The 17-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area was punched, beaten and eventually strangled to death when several men discovered she was a transgender woman. After the jury was removed from the courtroom, bailiffs removed the defendants and locked the doors while they escorted Nabors to the stand. The law, signed by Gov. She and Guerrero shared a deep love for the city for that reason, and in the year leading up to her murder, Gwen came to the city almost every weekend. [82], Gwen Araujo Memorial Transgender Education Fund. In announcing the bill's introduction they cited the murder of Araujo and the 2008 murder of gay California teen Larry King. I feel like a freak.". Watch the ABC7 Originals documentary, "Being Gwen: A Life and Death Story," streaming now in the video player above and on the ABC Owned Television Stations' connected TV Apps: ABC7 Bay Area, ABC30 Central California, ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC7 New York, ABC7 Chicago, 6abc Philadelphia, ABC13 Houston, and ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. [2] She was murdered by four men, two of whom she had been sexually intimate with, who beat and strangled her after discovering that she was transgender. Immediately after, she appeared on talk shows and at events with her hair styled, wearing crisp button-downs and leather boots. Prosecuting attorney Lamiero used male pronouns and her birth name to refer to Araujo, saying the defendants had decided "that the wages of [Gwen] Araujo's sin of deception were death". Nobody reported the murder of Gwen Araujo. Jerry Brown, states that fear or surprise of a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity may not be used a legal defense to justify an assault. I dont have my nails done. On October 4, 2002, four young men brutally murdered a beautiful, 17-year-old transgender teenager named Gwen Araujo. SFs most important stories, delivered straight to your inbox, Sylvia Guerrero, whose transgender daughter Gwen Araujo was murdered in 2002, sits for a portrait with a photo of her daughter on Saturday, Oct.1, 2022, in Tracy, Calif. Araujo, who spent a lot of time in San Francisco as a teenager, was beaten and strangled to death in Newark, Calif., when she was 17 years old. At first, she didn't know how to talk about it. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. [68] By 2005, Guerrero had spoken to more than 20 schools. Back in Tracy, Guerrero examined a broken taillight on her car while holding her daughters framed picture in her left hand. When Araujo was killed, Newark Memorial High School was preparing to stage a play on Shepard's death and the community drew comparisons between what happened to Shepard and how Araujo was killed. Ciara-Kiona Purvis September 11, 2022 Interpersonal Communication A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo story is based on a true story. This is the life and death story of 17-year-old Gwen Araujo. A recent family photograph shows Eddie Araujo holding his niece Arianna. At the sentencing, Merl apologized to Araujo's family but Magidson did not show any remorse. Jaron Nabors was sentenced to 11 years in prison. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream. July 4, 1999 At age 14, Eddie tells his mom. In at least one of the trials, a "trans panic defense"an extension of the gay panic defensewas employed. [15], During the February 2003 indictment proceedings, Nabors gave a detailed account of the murder and burial. They jury deadlocked once again on Cazares, but this time 9-3 in favor of a conviction. Loves the Beach. The four defendants in the murder of Gwen Araujo are being sentenced to prison on January 27, 2006. Araujo surprised her with a strong blow during the fight, and Brown said the men "were tripping, because she was smaller than me and just as strong. On October 4, 2002, four young men brutally murdered a beautiful, 17-year-old transgender teenager named Gwen Araujo. Because a city this offbeat deserves a newsletter with some On the night of Oct. 3, the men decided to confront Araujo about their suspicions during a party at the house Jose Merel shared with younger brother, Emmanuel, and older brother, Paul, who also previously engaged in sexual acts with Araujo. Jose Merel hit her in the head with a frying pan and a can of soup. PLEASE VERIFY RIGHTS. Analysts compared the strategy to the "gay panic" defense. | Olivia Cruz Mayeda/The Standard, By clicking Subscribe you confirm you have read and agree to our. Her PTSD and memory problems leave her unable to return to her former career and force her to scrape by with help fromseveral crowdfunding campaigns, including a recent GoFundMe page. Neither defendants was convicted of a hate crime. Police began to interview the party-goers, and one of them led the police to the Merls' house. "[17] The four men debated in late September whether Araujo was female, concluding that "something bad could happen" to her if she was not. Prosecutors allege they beat and strangled Araujo, 17 -- who was born Edward Araujo but lived and identified as a young woman -- in the early morning hours of Oct. 4, 2002, before burying her body in the El Dorado National Forest in the Sierra foothills. Prospective jurors were asked if they knew any lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people; whether they knew any recently married same-sex couples; whether they had met any transgender people; or whether they had seen a "movie or theatrical performance depicting the activities of a transgender person". Guerrero remembers Araujo telling her, "I don't feel like a boy. [75][76][77] The law limited the use by criminal defendants of the "gay/trans panic defense" by allowing parties to instruct jurors not to let bias influence their decisions, including "bias against the victim" based on his or her "gender identity, or sexual orientation". Gwen loved going to the city because she could be herself there.. "[15] Brown testified that she tried to comfort Merl after the discovery, saying "It's not your fault. The four who were initially arrested and accused of the murder were Magidson (age 22); Nabors (19), Jos Merl (22), and Paul Merl. This is the narrative that has persisted since shortly after Gwen's murder, but are there reasons to believe that this version of events isn't quite true? [8], Araujo first met Michael Magidson, Jos Merl, Jaron Nabors, and Jason Cazares in late August or early September 2002. Three men are suspected of killing the 17-year-old who frequently dressed like a young woman. Nabors testified that Magidson then strangled Araujo with a rope. The case became a rallying cry for transgender rights. [52] Serra also argued that Cazares took no active role in killing her. Guerrero foughtthe possible parole of Magidson but supported parole for Merel, while other family members want neither paroled. [75], In September 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill No. Sylvia Guerrero had never even heard the word transgender until her 17-year-olddaughter Gwen Araujo, born a son named Eddie, was brutally murdered. Writing is not a hobby, but a passion. [63] Cazares asked to begin serving his sentence after the birth of his third child, scheduled for March or April 2006, which was granted,[53] although Lamiero noted "it's difficult for me to entertain a request like that when Gwen Araujo is dead". The second trial began on May 31, 2005. Over the course of the teens life, Guerrero learned how to better support her daughter in a transphobic world. Her mother released 17 butterflies in her memory. NEWARK, Calif., -- The murder of Gwen Araujo in 2002 marked a turning point in the fight for transgender rights. On Tuesday, Sylvia Guerrero will step into the spotlight once again to keep her daughters legacy alive. I can never make up for the time we lost as Ive struggled to deal with the grief that began that night.. Eddie then began transitioning as a woman and called herself Gwen, after her favorite singer Gwen Stefani.According to court testimony, Araujo, whom the men knew . ",[20] and the men with whom she had had sexual relations became enraged and violent. Araujo was eventually strangled to death with a rope, tied up and taken by four of the men -- Jose Merel, Magidson, Cazares and Nabors -- in the back of a pickup truck to a camping area in the El Dorado National Forest where they buried her body. [62] Attorney Gloria Allred represented Araujo's family. I love children. She left me with no filter, too. The fund's purpose was to support school-based programs in the nine-county Bay Area that promote understanding of transgender people and issues through annual grants. But the murder of Gwen Araujo is still important today. I don't think most jurors are going to think it's OK to engage someone in sexual activity knowing they assume you have one sexual anatomy when you don't. Gwen Araujo was a transgender teenager from the SF Bay Area who was killed 20 years ago by men who claimed they were deceived by her sexual identity. [30], Nabors received an 11-year sentence on August 25, 2006. He said that he didnt understand the depths of what he had done until his own daughter, who was gravely disabled, died in 2011, said Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Jill Klinge. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. In her death, shes allowed me to see how much I took for granted, Guerrero said. Sylvia Guerrero had never heard the word transgender until four men murdered her daughter. [9], On the first anniversary of the murder, Horizons Foundation created the Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund for Transgender Education. The younger brother of one of three men accused of killing a Newark transgender teen testified Thursday that he had tried to rescue Gwen Araujo but had been stopped by one of the men and the prosecution's star witness, who has accepted a plea deal for his role in the death. [30], Magidson testified that it was instead Nabors who strangled her and struck her with the shovel,[32] and Cazares testified that he never struck her and did not see her die. Many have since forgotten Gwen. Dufty was elected as a supervisor in San Francisco a few months after Gwens murder and witnessed the community organizing that followed. Jaron Nabors. The youngest man charged, Jaron Nabors, then19, led police to Gwens body, hogtied and weighted down with rocks in a shallow grave in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and then testified against the others. "When Gwen was murdered that night, it was the beginning of a life sentence for me and my family," Guerrero told the publication. Michael Magidson and Jos Merl were sentenced to 15 years to life for killing Gwen Araujo. She made a promise beside her daughters casket that she would be her voice until people stop dying for who they are. A comprehensive rundown [58] After the trial, one of the jurors stated in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle that the murder conviction was because "The community standard is not and cannot be that killing is something a reasonable person would have done that night" but not hate crimes since the murder was believed to have been committed not because Araujo was transgender, but to "cover up a situation that had gotten out of control". "The first time I saw makeup smeared, I was yelling, 'What's wrong with you?'" The four men were outside talking and smoking when Nabors asked, "Could this be a dude?" [6] Her parents divorced when she was 10 months old. Araujo usually checked in with her mother, so when she did not come home the day after the party, her mother called the police on October 5 to report her missing. Court adjourned Thursday before Nabors could begin describing the night of the slaying. [61] Magidson was denied parole again in September 2019. Initial coverage by several news media outlets described the victim as a cross-dressing man. Jaron Nabors pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter and agrees to testify against his three friends in exchange for an 11 year prison term. [Gwen] lived every day of her life yearning and longing to be a girl in every sense of the word, so if anyone who didn't know her made her feel that way, why would she reveal that she is transgender? Nabors and Cazares urged the others to "knock the b out", according to Nabors's testimony. Gwens murder and Guerreros advocacy have led to legislative change. [13][14] She claimed to be menstruating and during sex would push her partners' hands away from her genitalia to prevent them from discovering that she had a penis. Yet the disability benefits she originally depended on were rejected in court. Araujo also became an inspiration in the transgender community. When trans people are painted in negative, stigmatized portrayals by politicians and so-called legal experts as has happened with ongoing bathroom policy debates the trans community gets marked for ridicule and violence, she said. [24][25] He then proceeded to punch her in the face, knocking her to the ground, and put her in a chokehold, but he was pulled off by others. Watch the ABC7 Originals documentary, "Being Gwen: A Life and Death Story," streaming now in the video player below. Jerry Brown. Jos Merl, who cried in anguish about having sex with Araujo, then struck her with a frying pan and a can of food. She lost her job as a legal assistant and ended up losing her home. This is a carousel. The presiding judge issued a gag order barring attorney from talking to the media. He left, along with his brother Paul and his girlfriend, while Araujo was bloodied in the living room. "[20] Brown said the four men were out at a club together and did not return to the house until after midnight. Trans people are being killed in record numbers. [22][25][27] Emmanuel Merl later testified he walked to a convenience store to buy gum, then went to a friend's house to spend the night. Several members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church picketed Araujo's funeral with hateful placards. And poor eight-year-old Noah is growing up in the midwest Bible belt . [33], Two days after Araujo was reported missing, a friend of Jaron Nabors described him as appearing distraught. HANDOUT PHOTO ALSO RAN 10/22/02, 11/19/02, 12/22/02, 10/4/2003, Emmanuel Merel, the younger brother of defendant Jose Merel, testifies in the Eddie "Gwen" Araujo murder trial in Alameda Superior Court Thursday, April 21, 2004, in Hayward, Calif. Emmanuel testified that he tried to push the teenager out the door to safety in the chaos that followed the discovery of Araujo's gender. Turn it off, turn it off, turn it off a male is repeating.. Why Are We Indifferent to Male Rape Victims. As she struggles to heal and support herself, Guerrero has also found a deep appreciation for the impact of Gwens life. In life, Gwen dreamed of being a part of San Franciscos transgender community and its history. The men became suspicious that Araujo was not biologically female because she did not let them touch her genitalia. Whether its riding public transit or waiting in line at the doctors office on a daily basis, the amount of trauma a trans person experiences is really unparalleled, and it adds up, Noyola said. According to court testimony, Araujo, who presented herself as Lida, engaged in sexual acts with Magidson and his friend, 22-year-old Jose Merel. It was shocking, Guerrero said. [2] He was killed by four men, two of whom he had been sexually intimate with while pretending to be female, who beat and strangled him after discovering that he was actually a biological male. Fourteen years later, the twomen convicted of second-degree murder faced a parole board for the first time this week in a world more aware of what it means to be a transgender person and the dangers the trans community faces. Guerrero has been unable to return to work and now shuffles her belongings from relatives' houses using a borrowed car from her friend. The case attracted national attention, both good and bad. Nabors takes police to the site where they buried Araujo's body. On the night of Oct. 3, 2002, Araujo attended a party at a house rented by Jos and Paul Merl. Watch the ABC7 Originals documentary, "Being Gwen: A Life and Death Story," streaming now in the video player above.It's also available on the ABC Owned Television Stations' connected TV Apps: ABC7 Bay Area, ABC30 Central California, ABC7 Los Angeles, ABC7 New York, ABC7 Chicago, 6abc Philadelphia, ABC13 Houston, and ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Nabors, testifying for the prosecution, stated that Magidson admitted to strangling Araujo. Emma Rodrigues, Gwen Araujo's aunt, Statement at sentencing hearing, January 27, 2006[53], The three defendants testified in this trialand blamed each other as well as Nabors. Now its a huge trans event that kicks off the San Francisco Pride weekend. Police arrested Jose Merel and Magidson, who was accused of strangling Araujo. A psychologist called by the defense tells the jury that a young man is likely to panic and overreact with violence if he finds out that a woman he was sexually intimate with turns out to be biologically male. [71], In September 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the "Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act" (AB 1160) into law. As Judge Harry Sheppard instructed, the verdicts were kept secret. At first, she didnt know how to talk about it. Did the men REALLY not know the truth about Gwen? Over the next few hours, Araujo was punched and beaten as she tried repeatedly to escape the house. And likely even more have forgotten the woman at the center of the media storm and trial proceedings that followed: Gwens mother. I was not perfect, Guerrero said, reflecting on that moment decades later. Araujo was born with male genitalia but her immediate family noticed early on. We have a long way to go before a trans person can be free to live their lives, to live out their dreams and goals like they deserve.. A driverless Waymo vehicle nearly drove itself right into a trench at a San Francisco construction site, an Instagram video posted Friday shows. Before Gwens death, Guerrero was a legal assistant and had a 401(k) pension account. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act into law, challenging the gay/trans panic defense used by her killers to lessen their culpability. With credit for time served, he was expected to spend approximately five years in jail from that point on. Gwen Araujo is born to Sylvia Guerrero and Edward Araujo. She was fearless, she was angry. Jason Cazares struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid a third trial and accepted a six-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter. That's not a world in which I want to live or most people want to live in. Her mother recalls they both cried a lot that night but she eventually told her daughter she would support her transition. Ill never forget the day Sylvia opened the door to her house, said Bernal, now a single mother of seven. California Gov. I was treated differently when I was wearing my business clothes to now that Im in shorts and have no money, Guerrero said, waving her hand over her figure. Police then question Nabors, Magidson and Jos Merl. Sylvia was relentless, Dufty said. "[22], The party-goers did not report the crime and the assailants said nothing to anyone about the murder. [15][16], Nicole Brown, who was dating Paul Merl (Jos's older brother) and was acquainted with Araujo, said that she and Araujo had engaged in a physical fight after Brown challenged Araujo to strip for the men. I feel like he forced them into homosexual sex, and my definition of rape was being forced into sex." Days before the 20-year anniversary of her daughters murder, Guerrero stood in front of the TV at her sons apartment in Tracy and flipped through generic photos of Pescaderos foggy coastline. The 17-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area was punched, beaten and eventually strangled to death when several men discovered she was a transgender woman. Cazares pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for a six-year sentence after two juries couldnt agree ona verdict. [29] The final votes were 102 in favor of acquitting Merl and Cazares of first-degree murder, and 75 in favor of convicting Magidson of first-degree murder. Her family reported her missing, but police had no information about her disappearance until Nabors told a close friend about what happened. Some call her mom., She didnt die in vain. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Merl was confident that charges would be dropped. I never heard of the word transgender until she died.". Cherished brother to Pearl and Jesus Serrano of CA, Rachel Araujo of Bakersfield, Brandon Guerrero-Bacot of Newark and Michael West of Newark. Only charge for Nabors. [58], Lamiero had undermined criminal intent by commenting, "Gwen being transgender was not a provocative act. As they were burying her, the men continued to disparage her. People are going to be hard on you, and its not going to be easy. She is born with male genitalia and raised as a boy by her family, who call her Eddie. [34] Confronted with the recording, Nabors agreed to lead authorities to the body[30] on October 15. Editors note: A previous version of this story incorrectly noted that Sylvia Guerrero was the youngest of her siblings. "[54], During the closing statements of the second trial, Cazares' defense lawyer Tony Serra argued that the three defendants were "ordinary human beings" who were guilty, at most, of manslaughter for their role in the death in a "classic state of heat and passion". Below is a timeline of how Gwen's life and death unfolded. She frequently encounters psychological triggers that derail her days. [7] Besides English, Jogia speaks some Gujarati and French. What Araujo did not know was that these four had already suspected that she was trans, and . On their way home, they purchased breakfast at a McDonald's drive-through window. [22] Brown testified that she warned Araujo that the men were "very angry", but upon exiting through the front door, Araujo was confronted and forced back inside the house by Magidson, Nabors, and Cazares. Memorial for Gwen Araujo Gwen Araujo was mourned in a public funeral at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Newark on October 25, 2002. "I don't want him to be identified in the rec room at Santa Rita (jail).". Only 17 years old at the time of her death, today Gwen would be a 27-year-old young woman had her life not been brutally taken by four men who discovered she was born male. Her loss has multiplied outside of the public eye in a system unequipped to support her. Jury selection for the trial of Magidson, Jos Merl, and Cazares began on March 15, 2004. Some of the trans people say they were thinking of committing suicide before seeing Gwens story. One of the many factors that parole boards consider is the impact on the victims family. | Olivia Cruz Mayeda/The Standard Guerrero always knew Gwen's relationship to her gender was different from other kids. Earlier in the day, Alameda Superior Court Judge Harry R. Sheppard ordered the media not to photograph Nabors. Magidson also testified and under cross-examination said he received oral sex from Araujo the night she was killed. Gwen Amber Rose Araujo (February 24, 1985 - October 4, 2002 [1]) was an American teenager who was murdered in Newark, California. "I know that their force is what stopped us from getting her out of the house.". [8], Paul Merl was released after Brown and Emmanuel Merl told the police that he had left the scene with them. In 2002, she would be brutally murdered by a group of men who uncovered that she was transgender. Stuff like that. [17] After half an hour, during which Jos Merl later confessed he had sex with Araujo, Brown went to the bathroom, where she discovered Araujo had male genitalia during a forced inspection. Brandon, then 13, and Michael, then 10, lost their sister and in many ways, their mother. Magidson and Merl were each convicted on the charge of second-degree murder,[57] but not convicted of the hate-crime enhancement allegations. Like the little flowers on the side of the freeway that no one notices. [45] In his opening statement, the defense attorney for Magidson argued that he should not be charged with murder, rather manslaughter at worst, under California law. Merl refused to answer the prosecutor's questions about how Araujo died. 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Vigils and marches seeking justice for Araujo were held in several San Francisco Bay Area cities. Araujo's murder was compared to the brutal death of Matthew Shepard four years earlier in Laramie, Wyoming. [7] Rumors reached her family that a girl who had been outed as transgender at a party had been killed and buried in Tahoe,[7] and her aunt called the police on October 9 to pass on the story. Eddie then began transitioning as a woman and called herself Gwen, after her favorite singer Gwen Stefani.According to court testimony, Araujo, whom the men knew a Lida, engaged in sexual . [65][66], At the request of Guerrero, a judge posthumously changed the victim's legal name to Gwen Amber Rose Araujo on June 23, 2004. Eddie then began transitioning as a woman and called herself Gwen, after her favorite singer Gwen Stefani.According to court testimony, Araujo, whom the men knew a Lida, engaged in sexual . The men become enraged and Magidson punched Araujo. Gwen Amber Rose Araujo (February 24, 1985 - October 4, 2002) [1] was an American trans teenager who was murdered in Newark, California at the age of 17. She says she receives emails from all over the world. "I didn't understand. Magidson, Jos Merl, Cazares and Nabors then drove four hours to the Silver Forks campground in El Dorado National Forest to buy Araujo's body. Gwen Araujo was beaten to death by a group of men, two of them ex-lovers of hers, when they found out she used to be a he. One can debate the propriety of one choosing to identify with a gender other than the one they were born with. [17], In the early morning hours of October 4, Magidson asked Araujo to reveal her sex or allow him to touch her genitals, which she refused. The defense maintains Araujo tricked the defendants into sexual relations. Jury selection begins for the second trial. By early morning on Oct. 4, the men questioned Araujo and demanded to know if she is biologically male. The jury deadlocked 7-5 in favor of convicting Magidson on a first-degree murder charge. Nabors described how Araujo had locked lips with all four of the men that night to blow marijuana smoke into their mouths in what he described as a "power hit." The men would later claim during the trial that they were driven to a fit of rage after learning that Gwen, who two of the men had slept with, was biologically male. She walked into the house with The murder also brought disdain from far-right religious groups who condemned Araujo for living as a transgender woman. Loving son to Sylvia Guerrero of Newark and Edward Araujo of Brawley. [25][26] The last words Merl heard Araujo speak were "I told you I was sorry. The younger brother of one of three men accused of killing a Newark transgender teen testified Thursday that he had tried to rescue Gwen Araujo but had been stopped by one of the men and the. Seventeen states now have bans on the use of gay and trans panic defenses. In 2014, that law was strengthened by Gov. That friend told someone else and the rumor of Araujo's murder eventually got back to the family who reported it to police. Fred Phelps and the members of Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church promised to picket the funeral,[36] but did not.,[64] there were people there that picket with signs but friends wore angel wings to block casket from signs. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. Feb. 24, 1985At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. Gwen Araujo murder 14 years later: Transgender, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), ACE train service cancelled after more mudslides at Niles Canyon, Gwen Araujo murder 14 years later: Transgender teens killers face parole. I think it was toxic anyway, keeping all those emotions in. On Tuesday, trans rights advocates and Gwens loved ones will gather at San Franciscos Main Library to honor her legacy on the anniversary of her murder. She was loving, vibrant, and beautiful. But I love you, and well get through this., Guerrero wasnt just a mother and confidante to Gwen and her three other children but to anyone who needed her. History of transgender people in the United States, History of violence against LGBT people in the United States, List of people killed for being transgender, "Two Guilty of Murder in Death of a Transgender Teenager", "Trying to Understand Eddie's Life and Death", "Slain Newark teen balanced between two worlds", "Case of slain transgender teen could go to a jury this week", "HAYWARD / Suspect's brother says he tried to aid Araujo / He testifies others blocked him from rescuing victim", "HAYWARD / Defense calls transgender victim guilty of 'deception and betrayal', "HAYWARD / Defense grills star witness in teen murder trial / 'You're lying,' lawyer says to man who pleaded guilty", "Guilty plea in transgender killing / Defendant makes deal, testifies against friends", "3 Are Charged In Death of Man Who Dressed Like a Woman", "One year since transgender teen's death / Gwen Araujo's family still struggling to cope", "HAYWARD / Witness tells of friends' anger at being duped / He says 2 were mad their sex partner was biologically male", "Witness tells how she learned transgender teen was male", "Slain teen's last night recounted / Witness testifies on events leading to killing of transgender youth", "HAYWARD / Transgender teen did nothing 'to deserve death' / But 1 accused killer said he vomited on finding she was male", "Man Testifies on His Role in Teen's Death", "Witness details slaying of transgender teenager", "Three sentenced to prison in Araujo slaying", "Attack Witnesses Unlikely to Face Criminal Charges", "11 years for defendant in Araujo killing", "Chilling time line of a killing / Death of transgender teen described in grisly detail", "Defendant says prosecution witness admitted killing Araujo", "3 Charged in Beating Death of Boy, 17, Who Lived as a Girl", "Man Pleads Not Guilty in Slaying of Transgender Bay Area Teenager", "Fourth Arrest Made in Transgender Killing", "Fourth Person Sought in Slaying Inquiry Is Found", "Accused: Araujo bargained for escape Preliminary hearing in death of transgender teen to end today (subscription needed)", "Defense attorney: Witness struck Gwen's fatal blow (subscription required)", "Slaying Victim's Mother Now Speaks Out Against Hate Crime", "Witness Unable to Testify About Transgender Teen's Slaying", "Accused killer was 'disgusted' that transgender teen was male", "NEWARK / Teen's death a crime of passion, defense says", "Final defendant testifies in Araujo murder trial", "Newark Transgender Teen Murder Verdicts Upheld", "2 Convicted of Murdering Transgender Teen", "HAYWARD / Manslaughter ruled out, Araujo juror says / 'Events devolved into brutal beating and homicide', "HAYWARD / Araujo case draws to close / Last defendant pleads no contest to avoid third trial", "Gwen Araujo murder 14 years later: Transgender teen's killers face parole", "Cazares plea brings Araujo trial to close", "Man Given 11 Years in Gwen Araujo's Death", "Mourners Overflow Funeral of Teen Allegedly Slain Over Sexual Identity", "Longtime trans activist says goodbye to TransVision", "SAN FRANCISCO / Transgender community feels joy, anger at Araujo verdict", "Fests go in for a piece of the action: Cinequest to distribute 'Ways of Men', "Ten years later, Araujo's murder resonates", "An act to amend Section 192 of the Penal Code, relating to manslaughter", "California Bans Gay and Trans Panic Defense", "Assemblymember Bonilla and Equality California Introduce Bill to Ban "Panic Defense" Strategy as a Courtroom Tactic by Murder Defendants", "Online Extra: Parole denied for killer of Bay Area transgender teen", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Gwen_Araujo&oldid=1133311118, American victims of anti-LGBT hate crimes, Deaths by strangulation in the United States, Articles with dead external links from September 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using embedded infobox templates with the title parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. [7], Araujo came out as transgender in 1999 at the age of 14, and began using the name Gwen after her favorite musician, Gwen Stefani, but also went by Wendy and Lida. Nabors was initially charged with murder, too, but he agreed to testify against his friends in exchange for an 11-year sentence. She lived with relatives for a while and now shares a room with one of her grandchildren. [19][42][43] During the formal entry of his plea, Judge Kenneth Burr warned Nabors that he could still be charged with murder if prosecutors found he was not "living up to your end of the bargain". [25] Jos Merl became concerned that Araujo was bleeding on the couch and ordered her off it. Charges against Paul Merel were dropped the following day. The Civic Remembrance and call to action for Gwen Araujo will be held Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 4-6 p.m. at San Francisco Main Librarys Koret Auditorium. Beto Lopez, Gwens childhood friend, remembered sneaking out of the house in their hometown of Newark to go to San Francisco Pride with Gwen in 2000. Investigators got Nabors' friend to wear a wire and record Nabors talking about the murder. "Mike and Jaron were in front of the door," Merel testified in a Hayward courtroom. [51] Magidson, Merl, and Cazares were charged with first-degree murder with hate-crime enhancements.[52]. A few weeks later they also arrested Cazares. Most people in their neighborhood called her mom.. [70], Sylvia Guerrero, Araujo's mother, worked as a legal assistant at a San Jose law firm, but as of 2016 was homeless due to PTSD from the incident. bitea dose of arts, culture and more. [46] Magidson's attorney said that his client was not biased[47] but had been shocked "beyond reason" to learn he had unwittingly had sex with a "man": a variant of the gay panic defense. The jury is unable to reach a guilty verdict and the judge declares mistrial. Even though it took time to adjust to the change, soon they started to see and accept Araujo as a woman. Guerrero is the mother of slain transgender teen Gwen Araujo, 17, of Newark. [12], Jos Merl vomited upon learning Araujo was anatomically male, then began to cry in disbelief,[23] saying "I can't be f gay. I still call her mom when I talk to her.. Sylvia Guerrero spoke at the first Trans March held on the Friday before the Pride Parade in San Francisco. Gwen was 14 when she and Guerrero were painting their nails in bed, and Gwen told her mom that she didnt feel like a boy. All Rights Reserved. At the sentencing of the suspects, Araujo's mother, Sylvia Guerrero, said that the murder and court process (which lasted three years) had taken an emotional toll on her and that it had affected her relationship with her children. Araujo was born with male genitalia but her immediate family noticed early on. In 2010, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act. At the same time, Gwen's mother suffered from PTSD from the trial. Gwen felt most accepted as a trans woman in San Francisco, according to her mother. I cant tell youhow many people have told me, because of your daughter, I am free to be who I am.. Know Your City! Guerreros communityalong with members of the LGBTQ+ communityhas rallied to help support her, raising almost $25,000 to help her pay her bills over the last seven years. Referring to Araujo as Lidathe name she had used with themNabors testified that he saw Magidson raising the rope to her neck before he left the garage and that Magidson later told the others "that he had wrapped the rope around Lida's neck and twisted it." Feb. 24, 1985At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. The San Francisco Standard. Just let her go. [15][29] Brown recalled that after she had left with Paul Merl, they drove around the block and returned to the house to see Nabors and Cazares leaving in Magidson's truck. "[23], At some point after that, Brown woke Paul Merl, and they left the house with Emmanuel Merl. Gwen Araujo was born on February 24, 1985, in Brawley, California, to Edward Araujo and Sylvia Guerrero. LGBTQ+ resources are available: abc7news.com/TakeAction, JetBlue plane bumps into another aircraft in JFK Airport's gate area, Father, son accused of animal cruelty after 26 cats found in LI home, NYC confronts the problem of unlicensed smoke shops. [4][5] In some contemporary news reports and during the first trial of the perpetrators, Gwen Araujo was misgendered and referred to by her deadname. ", HAYWARD / Suspect's brother says he tried to aid Araujo / He testifies others blocked him from rescuing victim. [80], Jason Cazares was released from prison in July 2012. I went to high school with you, and you were on the football team. The 17-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area was punched, beaten and. As a young boy, Eddie Araujo always felt like he was different in a way. [23] Merl also said he thought she was still alive until he saw her body in the bed of Magidson's truck. This publication will provide readers with the best true crime content on Medium. Gwensmurder spurred the first Trans March in 2003. Sylvia Guerrero is seen in San Francisco on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. Ive always loved San Francisco, Guerrero said. Manny later testified that he tried to get Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men. Guerrero considered Magidson and Jason Cazares the principal actors in the killing. With content streaming every single day, readers can turn to The Crime Center to fill their true crime needs. He pleaded to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. She wasnt mad. She cant afford the surgery to remove an IUD that should have been taken out in 2005 and has painfully embedded itself in her uterus. Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender woman from Newark, California. Two of the men, Michael Magidson and Jose Merel were convicted of 2nd degree murder and face sentences of 15 years to life. [75][76][77] The law put California on record as declaring it contrary to public policy for defendants to be acquitted or convicted of a lesser included offense on the basis of appeals to "societal bias". They viciously beat and strangled Gwento death at a Newark house party on Oct. 4,2002, after they confirmed she was biologically male. [11] Jos Merl testified he was cleaning Araujo's blood out of the carpets and couch as Magidson was binding her ankles, prior to her being taken to the garage. Michael Magidson told a parole board on Wednesday that he wasnt ready for release. Merl and Magidson were sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Emmanuel Merel said he later had left the house with his older brother, Paul Merel, and the brother's girlfriend, Nicole Brown. During a police interrogation, Nabors went into detail about what happened and who was involved. Gwen was going to be 18 soon and had aspirations of going to beauty school. [30] At some point, the assault resumed. Her mother found it to be odd but did not put much thought into it. The two -- Michael W. Magidson and Jose A. Merel, both 25 -- were found guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Gwen Araujo, who was born as a male named Eddie Araujo Jr., but who . Noyola said she remembers it as mostly non-trans people, a handful of folks, angry and grieving over Gwens murder. Any woman that knows you after this, it's not going to matter. It was a beautiful conversation that Ill always cherish, Guerrero said. [39][40][41] At the first trial, defense attorney Tony Serra accused Nabors of writing the letter knowing it would be intercepted and implicate Cazares. [8], The Alameda County Sheriff's Office dispatched four crime scene investigators and two detectives to recover Araujo's body from the grave site. Here's what happened to Bay Area trans teen Gwen Araujo. Guerrero sees her daughters legacy firsthand each time the Lifetime movie, A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Storyairs. She was the oldest of 11 children to immigrant parents from Irapuato, Mexico. Guerrero looked after her 10 younger siblings while her parents worked, getting them ready for school and packing their lunches. [8][13] According to Merl, Magidson said he was not sure she was dead until they struck her with a shovel. Her face lit up, said Lopez, who came out to Gwen in high school. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lamiero announced he will seek a second trial. Sylvia is the mother of Gwen Araujo. [36], After he was arrested, Nabors wrote a letter to a girlfriend in which he stated the defendants had discussed a "Soprano-type plan" to "kill the b and get rid of her body". It was just a passing thought, and no one took it seriously, he said. They also deadlocked 7-5 in favor of convicting Magidson of first-degree murder. Magidson, 24, of Fremont and Jason Cazares and Jose Merel, both 24 and from Newark, are being tried on murder and hate-crime charges and could face life in prison if convicted. ". [56], On September 12, after a week of deliberation, the jury announced its verdicts. At age 14, Araujo sat down with her mom for a heart-to-heart talk. [48] During his testimony, Nabors said he felt his friends had been raped, since Araujo (whom he referred to as male) "did not come clean with being what he really was. At another point, he consoled his brother, Jose Merel, who was crying. Through this fund, Sylvia Guerrero and her family spoke in middle and high schools about transgender awareness and understanding. We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. [76], Jaron Nabors was released from prison some time before 2016. He walked alone to a 7- Eleven store, bought a pack of gum and went to a friend's house to spend the night, he said. The jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting Cazares and Merel of first-degree murder. [55], On September 8, the jury announced that it had reached verdicts on two of the three defendants. age: 17 yrs 7 mos 7 days ~~~ Edward Gwen Araujo, Jr. of Newark entered into rest Thursday, October 3, 2002. Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender teenager who lived in Newark, Calif. with her mother, Sylvia Guerrero. Momsespecially momsif they knew the factsyou'd be surprised. [22], When Nabors and Cazares returned, Araujo was still conscious, bleeding from her head wound and sitting on the couch. The ABC7 Originals documentary, "Being Gwen: A Life and Death Story," focuses on the struggles she faced early in life, her gender transition as a young teenager, and the tragic events in October 2002 that led to her death. The elderly woman was a victim of recent storms. [8] According to The Start, Jogia was a student at Killarney Secondary School until age 17 when he left to pursue acting full-time, having already gained a number of small television credits. That friend tipped off the police, and agreed to wear a microphone during a subsequent conversation with Nabors about the murder. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! [14], Nabors pleaded guilty on February 24, 2003, to a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, which carried an 11-year prison sentence, along with a promise to testify against the other three defendants. She was killed 20 years ago. East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. [30] Cazares kicked her. And Im still learning.. According to Nabors, Magidson "wasn't sure if Lida had died from twisting the rope, but once Jason hit her twice with the shovel, he knew she was dead". The Alameda County coroner's report said Araujo died by strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head. The four accused of the murder were: Michael Magidson, 22; Jaron Nabors, 19; Jos Merl, 22; and Paul Merl, Jose's older brother. Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender teenager who lived in Newark, Calif. with her mother, Sylvia Guerrero. Loves to Read. [12], Nabors and Cazares left in Magidson's truck to retrieve shovels and a pickaxe from Cazares's house,[25][28] saying as they left the Merl house that the other men were going to "kill that b". he testified. During Magidson's testimony, a tape of his initial interview with the police was shown, in which an investigator was recorded coaching him to use the trans panic defense: "You'd be surprised. Gwen Araujo is born to Sylvia Guerrero and Edward Araujo. [60], Gwen Araujo was mourned in a public funeral at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Newark on October 25, 2002. Magidson, Jos Merl and Nabors were arraigned for Araujo's murder in a Fremont courtroom. Gwen Araujos brutal death two decades ago drew international attention and prompted the passage of a law in her name, as well as a movie about her life. london to sheffield at 170mph, ruby check if array contains object with attribute, east wake academy teacher, wmata train operator trainee, xarelto and tooth extraction, united states institute of medicine, 5 penny joke explained, jim perry obituary, colorado collections agency, norman baker wendy williams show age, dixie lee peas nutrition, david caves verity cunningham, allstate virtual assist phone number, female silkwing names, palace station pan roast,
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