[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. Below, you'll find a timeline of how the life and death of Gwen unfolded. [8], The Alameda County Sheriff's Office dispatched four crime scene investigators and two detectives to recover Araujo's body from the grave site. but none of the four men took the thought seriously. [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? Cherished brother to Pearl and Jesus Serrano of CA, Rachel Araujo of Bakersfield, Brandon Guerrero-Bacot of Newark and Michael West of. Sylvia Guerrero had never heard the word transgender until four men murdered her daughter. Through this fund, Sylvia Guerrero and her family spoke in middle and high schools about transgender awareness and understanding. Investigators got Nabors' friend to wear a wire and record Nabors talking about the murder. 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. Merl refused to answer the prosecutor's questions about how Araujo died. ". She fought like a guy. HAYWARD / Witness tells of friends' anger at being duped / He HAYWARD / Araujo begged for mercy, witness says, THIS IS A HANDOUT IMAGE. [8][13] According to Merl, Magidson said he was not sure she was dead until they struck her with a shovel. Sunseri said. When Gwen was 8, Guerrero stopped her daughter as she was getting out of the car for school and asked her if she knew she was a boy. The people who alleged to be Araujo's friends often speculated whether or not she was actually a female. I always have.. She was calm about it.. [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. Yet the disability benefits she originally depended on were rejected in court. ", HAYWARD / Suspect's brother says he tried to aid Araujo / He testifies others blocked him from rescuing victim. 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 . With credit for time served, he was expected to spend approximately five years in jail from that point on. Feb. 24, 1985At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. Get the support you need. It was shocking, Guerrero said. Jose Merel hit her in the head with a frying pan and a can of soup. Editors note: A previous version of this story incorrectly noted that Sylvia Guerrero was the youngest of her siblings. 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. Activists decry the decision as a setback for transgender rights. The jury finds Michael Magidson and Jos Merl guilty of second-degree murder. [25][26] The last words Merl heard Araujo speak were "I told you I was sorry. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lamiero announced he will seek a second trial. It's who she was. Seventeen states now have bans on the use of gay and trans panic defenses. Lopez stood next to her on a packed BART station escalator. Gwens murder and Guerreros advocacy have led to legislative change. By early morning on Oct. 4, the men questioned Araujo and demanded to know if she is biologically male. Nabors agreed to testify against his friends in exchange for a reduced manslaughter charge. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender teenager who lived in Newark, Calif. with her mother, Sylvia Guerrero. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to connect with a qualified LGBTQ+ crisis responder. Araujo was killed at a house party 14 years ago . She is born with male genitalia and raised as a boy by her family, who call her Eddie. 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. On October 4, 2002, four young men brutally murdered a beautiful, 17-year-old transgender teenager named 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. Merel, who has expressed remorse from the beginning, admitted Friday that back then he felt more sorry for himself. [1][3] Two of the defendants were convicted of second-degree murder,[4] but not the requested hate-crime enhancements to the charges. Her depression, anxiety and PTSD are so debilitating, Guerrero hasnt been able to find a full-time job. She frequently encounters psychological triggers that derail her days. Loves to Read. He took the stand Thursday afternoon -- his 21st birthday -- and described how, the first night he met Araujo that summer, he had gotten the "crazy idea" she might have been a man. of SF politics and culture. And poor eight-year-old Noah is growing up in the midwest Bible belt . For more than a decade after Gwens death, she spoke at events about her daughters murder and the struggle for trans rights at events, before taking a break of several years. Magidson, however, has reportedly never shown remorse and has been denied parole twice since his sentencing. [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". Guerrero has been unable to return to work and now shuffles her belongings from relatives' houses using a borrowed car from her friend. In life, Gwen dreamed of being a part of San Franciscos transgender community and its history. "I know that their force is what stopped us from getting her out of the house.". (AP Photo/Anda Chu, Pool) POOL PHOTO, Defendant Jose Merel listens to the testimony of his younger brother, Emmanuel Merel, during Jose Merel's murder trial in Alameda Superior Court on Thursday, April 21, 2004, in Hayward, Calif. Emmanuel Merel testified that he tried to push Eddie "Gwen" Araujo that he tried to push her out the door to safety in the chaos that followed the discovery that she was biologically male. She is born with male genitalia and raised as a boy by her family, who call her Eddie. But the murder of Gwen Araujo is still important today. Noyola said she remembers it as mostly non-trans people, a handful of folks, angry and grieving over Gwens murder. 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. [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. He was awakened by loud voices and eventually emerged outside his room to observe a chaotic scene. In 2014, that law was strengthened by Gov. Her hair is dyed black and falls flat against her back. Guerrero also knew her daughter had a drinking problem and brought up rehab. 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. "I didn't understand. 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". Now at 58, she wears flip-flops and jean shorts. The civil rights leader made several notable appearances in the Bay Area, where he paved the way for future leaders like SFs first Black mayor, London Breed. [50], The second trial began on May 31, 2005. Vigils and marches seeking justice for Araujo were held in several San Francisco Bay Area cities. [17][21] Brown was surprised and blurted out, "It's a f man! They jury deadlocked once again on Cazares, but this time 9-3 in favor of a conviction. Morbidology Podcast The article continues below Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson. Araujo attended a party at the house Jos Merl shared with his younger brother, Manny, and his older brother Paul, who also had previously engaged in sexual acts with Gwen. Her family reported her missing, but police had no information about her disappearance until Nabors told a close friend about what happened. I still call her mom when I talk to her.. I dont have my nails done. "My first impression of her was that she wasn't shy at all," Nabors said. [8], Araujo first met Michael Magidson, Jos Merl, Jaron Nabors, and Jason Cazares in late August or early September 2002. [7] Besides English, Jogia speaks some Gujarati and French. Momsespecially momsif they knew the factsyou'd be surprised. NEWARK19E-C-18OCT02-MT-HO Sylvia Guerrero has faced hardship since Araujo's death. Thats OK, Guerrero recalled saying. Police began to interview the party-goers, and one of them led the police to the Merls' house. Jury selection begins for the second trial. After she left, Nabors asked the other three "Could this be a dude?" Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender teenager who lived in Newark, Calif. with her mother, Sylvia Guerrero. She lives in this prison in her own mind.". Magidson was called out for being unrepentant at his sentencing and still has not shown remorse, according to Guerrero. Today shes an admired activist for transgender causes, even though the horror of Gwens fate has upended her life. [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. An estimated 3,000 marched from Dolores Park to Civic Center where a rally was held. [9], On the first anniversary of the murder, Horizons Foundation created the Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund for Transgender Education. During a police interrogation, Nabors went into detail about what happened and who was involved. Nobody reported the murder of Gwen Araujo. 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. Earlier in the day, Alameda Superior Court Judge Harry R. Sheppard ordered the media not to photograph Nabors. Over the next few hours, Araujo was punched and beaten as she tried repeatedly to escape the house. According to court testimony, Araujo, whom the men knew a Lida, engaged in sexual activity with Michael Magidson and Jos Merl. They also deadlocked 7-5 in favor of convicting Magidson of first-degree murder. [22] Emmanuel Merl testified that he also tried to escort Araujo away from the house, but was prevented by Magidson and Nabors. He pleaded to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Arnold Schwarzenegger signs the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act. That friend tipped off the police, and agreed to wear a microphone during a subsequent conversation with Nabors about the murder. As she struggles to heal and support herself, Guerrero has also found a deep appreciation for the impact of Gwens life. [67] Amber Rose was the name Guerrero had chosen before her child was born, in the event it was a girl. On their living room sofa, Guerrero and her daughter planned out the future. [30] After this, the defendants' testimonies diverge. 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. Still, there have been nearly 25slayings of transgender people in the United States so far in 2016 alone, according to Noyola, including the killing of Brandi Bledsoe in Cleveland last week. 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. 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. "My mom is stuck in her own grief," said Sunseri, who fought back tears about the impact Araujo's murder had on her mother. Gwensmurder spurred the first Trans March in 2003. Nabors testified that Magidson then strangled Araujo with a rope. Manny later testified that he tried to get Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men. Gwen, often called a woman, was really just a 90-pound girl withno chance against the four drunken youngmen, including two who had been sexually intimate with her, Guerrero said. After several encounters, the men grew suspicious about why she wouldn't let the men touch her parts of her body. 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. He also said that he and Jose Merel had been alone in a bedroom with Araujo, where they engaged in some flirtatious petting. At an early age, he started putting on his mom's makeup and wearing his mom's clothes. [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. This is a carousel. At another point, he consoled his brother, Jose Merel, who was crying. In this video, I explain my theory about what may have actually happened to lead up to Gwen's murder. Araujo's mom reports her missing to police. "It is for this witness' safety," Sheppard said, during a meeting with journalists in his office. [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. 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. At age 14, Araujo sat down with her mom for a heart-to-heart talk. It was warm out, and the air smelled like basil from a nearby farm. [34], One of the jurors wrote a newspaper article after the mistrial; in it, he credited Cazares's defense attorney, Tony Serra, with introducing enough reasonable doubt about the veracity of the prosecution's witnesses, including both Brown (who had admitted to consuming more than a dozen beers that night) and Nabors (who was characterized as a liar and "chameleon", prone to exaggeration and eager to please in every social situation). 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. [55], On September 8, the jury announced that it had reached verdicts on two of the three defendants. [23] Merl also said he thought she was still alive until he saw her body in the bed of Magidson's truck. Fred Phelps and the members of Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church ( who also made an appearance in our last article) promised to picket the funeral but thankfully did not. 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. Guerrero became an advocate for transgender rights. One can debate the propriety of one choosing to identify with a gender other than the one they were born with. Gwen loved going to the city because she could be herself there.. "She had no problem flirting.". 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." The day after the mistrial, a judge grants a request by the mother of Gwen Araujo to legally change her name from Edward Araujo Jr. to Gwen Amber Rose Araujo. She was loving, vibrant, and beautiful. 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. Initial coverage by several news media outlets described the victim as a cross-dressing man. Nabors, testifying for the prosecution, stated that Magidson admitted to strangling Araujo. Cherished brother to Pearl and Jesus Serrano of C age: 17 yrs 7 mos 7 days ~~~ Edward Gwen Araujo, Jr. of Newark entered into rest Thursday, October 3, 2002. Her father was a mushroom farmer for the Campbell Soup Company in Pescadero, where she was raised. [29], Before the first trial, the prosecuting attorney, Alameda County deputy district attorney Chris Lamiero argued that simply being transgender should not have been a death sentence:[44]. Any woman that knows you after this, it's not going to matter. Gwens mother is one of the victims that transphobic violence leaves behind. That friend told someone else and the rumor of Araujo's murder eventually got back to the family who reported it to police. [12], Jos Merl vomited upon learning Araujo was anatomically male, then began to cry in disbelief,[23] saying "I can't be f gay. The jury is unable to reach a guilty verdict and the judge declares mistrial. [60] According to Lamiero, Cazares was willing to plead guilty to being an accessory after the fact, but that deal was rejected because the sentence was just three years and admitted no culpability in the murder. NEWARK, Calif. (KGO) -- She was killed 20 years ago. Sylvia Guerrero is seen in San Francisco on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. 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. Jose Merel and Magidson had been sexually intimate with Araujo on other occasions. 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. 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". 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. Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender teenager who lived in Newark, Calif. with her mother, Sylvia Guerrero. A few weeks later they also arrested Cazares. At first, she didnt know how to talk about it. Transgender activists educated the family about what it means to be transgender and the proper use of pronouns. [33], Two days after Araujo was reported missing, a friend of Jaron Nabors described him as appearing distraught. 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. 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. Like the little flowers on the side of the freeway that no one notices. She made a promise beside her daughters casket that she would be her voice until people stop dying for who they are. Her mother recalls they both cried a lot that night but she eventually told her daughter she would support her transition. Emmanuel Merel testified he tried to get Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men. In at least one of the trials, a "trans panic defense"an extension of the gay panic defensewas employed. LGBTQ+ resources are available: abc7news.com/TakeAction. 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. Check out Bay Area safety tracker, Bay Area Life; Sundays at 6:30 p.m. on ABC7, How the murder of transgender teenager Gwen Araujo unfolded. I cant afford it.. In announcing the bill's introduction they cited the murder of Araujo and the 2008 murder of gay California teen Larry King. East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. 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. "[15] Brown testified that she tried to comfort Merl after the discovery, saying "It's not your fault. Cazares pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for a six-year sentence after two juries couldnt agree ona verdict. [9][10] Her older sister said that she was bullied in junior high school because of her voice and bearing. Analysts compared the strategy to the "gay panic" defense. The four defendants in the murder of Gwen Araujo are being sentenced to prison on January 27, 2006. Gwens murder played no small part inthe ongoing movement against trans violence and forequality and understanding, said Isa Noyola of theTransgender Law Center. Guerrero looked after her 10 younger siblings while her parents worked, getting them ready for school and packing their lunches. 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. 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. 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. People are going to be hard on you, and its not going to be easy. And if you or anyone you know is being bullied, call the Transgender Law Center for help at 415-865-0176. All Rights Reserved. California becomes the first state in the nation to ban a "trans panic" defense. I feel like a freak.". Before Gwens death, Guerrero was a legal assistant and had a 401(k) pension account. They are 22-year-old Michael Magidson, 22-year-old Jos Merl, 22-year-old Jason Cazares, and 19-year-old and Jaron Nabors. The letter was intercepted by sheriff's officials[15] and led to the arrest of Cazares on November 19. 2 Stanford 55-46, Ask Amy: I'm young and hot, and I just got two of my older clients pregnant, Harriette Cole: My husband can't remember what he did on New Year's Eve, and I can't forget, The Bay Area's 10 best new bakeries, from Los Gatos to Danville to Emeryville, Dear Abby: Because of a patio heater, we've been dragged into their messy divorce, Dear Abby: I kept this secret for 30 years, and now I'm devastated by the outcome, Ask Amy: When I saw what was in the gift bag, I sat down and cried, Minnesota boy has slept outside 1,000 nights in a row, despite bugs, a bear and 38-below, Dear Abby: It makes me queasy when my boyfriend sends roses to my office for no reason, Dear Abby: I'm scared she'll find out about my crush and it will ruin everything, Harriette Cole: I'm hurt by my best friend's surprising behavior, AR-15 style rifle marketed for children showcased at Las Vegas gun convention: Despicable, Freshwater fish are significantly more contaminated with toxic forever chemicals than saltwater fish and shellfish, analysis shows, Polar bear killed a woman and a boy after chasing residents in Alaska town, Colorados major ski resorts could get a foot or more of snow this week, WATCH: White shark surprises boy in stunning fishing encounter off Fort Lauderdale, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Defendants could not claim they were provoked into committing a murder because of the victim's gender identity or sexual orientation. The four who were initially arrested and accused of the murder were Magidson (age 22); Nabors (19), Jos Merl (22), and Paul Merl. [23], She was then placed in the bed of a pick-up truck, and the four men drove her body four hours away, burying her near the Sierra Nevada mountains in a shallow grave in the El Dorado National Forest near Silver Fork Road in El Dorado County. Guerrero always knew Gwens relationship to her gender was different from other kids. 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. I feel like he forced them into homosexual sex, and my definition of rape was being forced into sex." Michael Magidson and Jos Merl were sentenced to 15 years to life for killing Gwen Araujo. Nabors testified that Magidson strangled her with a rope and that Cazares struck her with a shovel,[11] but Nabors was returning from the garage and did not actually witness the act of strangulation. Gwen Amber Rose Araujo (February 24, 1985 - October 4, 2002 [1]) was an American teenager who was murdered in Newark, California. [15], During the February 2003 indictment proceedings, Nabors gave a detailed account of the murder and burial. Two of the men, Michael Magidson and Jose Merel were convicted of 2nd degree murder and face sentences of 15 years to life. Gwen Araujo's murder brought about several changes in California law. The men become enraged and Magidson punched Araujo. She left me with no filter, too. In 2010, then-Gov. Most people in their neighborhood called her mom.. She lost her job as a legal assistant and ended up losing her home. 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. Theywere convicted at thesecond of two trials and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. A comprehensive rundown Araujo's remains are cremated. Gwen Araujo is born to Sylvia Guerrero and Edward Araujo. Some call her mom., She didnt die in vain. [8] She began to grow her hair long and planned to undergo hormone treatment and surgery. [61][81], Michael Magidson said he was not ready for release at his parole board hearing in 2016, and his request for parole was also opposed by Guerrero. Brown grabbed Araujo's crotch during a confrontation in the bathroom and revealed she had male genitalia. Araujo's funeral is held at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Newark. Curating the best of The Standards top-notch reporting, every Saturday. Magidson testified that Nabors admitted he had strangled Araujo. [6] [51] Magidson, Merl, and Cazares were charged with first-degree murder with hate-crime enhancements.[52]. [78][79][80] AB 2501 was introduced by Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla in partnership with Equality California. The defense maintains Araujo tricked the defendants into sexual relations. Gwen was a vibrant transgender teenager who was murdered in Newark, California in October 2002. She transferred to an alternative high school, but did not return for the 200203 academic year. At the same time, Gwen's mother suffered from PTSD from the trial. At the sentencing, Merl apologized to Araujo's family but Magidson did not show any remorse. In court, two of the men who strangled, beat and buried the trans teenager claimed gay panic.. Some of the trans people say they were thinking of committing suicide before seeing Gwens story. [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. Earlier Thursday, Emmanuel Merel, 22, testified that he had stayed in his room for most of the night on Oct. 3, 2002, instead of partying with the others. "[14], The first trial ended in a mistrial on June 22 following nine days of deliberations, when the jurors were unable to reach a unanimous decision for the three men. A driverless Waymo vehicle nearly drove itself right into a trench at a San Francisco construction site, an Instagram video posted Friday shows. [6] Her parents divorced when she was 10 months old. Questions, comments or concerns about this article may be sent to [emailprotected]. This is the life and death story of 17-year-old Gwen Araujo. | Olivia Cruz Mayeda/The Standard, By clicking Subscribe you confirm you have read and agree to our. The case attracted national attention, both good and bad. Ive always loved San Francisco, Guerrero said. bitea dose of arts, culture and more. [71], In September 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the "Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act" (AB 1160) into law. [61] Magidson was denied parole again in September 2019. Stuff like that. But I trust juries to understand that people don't get to make life or death decisions simply based on someone's lifestyle. She says she is excited to return to actively working on the cause. Then while Araujo was in the bathroom, Brown went inside, grabbed her crotch, and reportedly shouted to the group, "It's a man.". [8], Paul Merl was released after Brown and Emmanuel Merl told the police that he had left the scene with them. 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He saw her body, Brandon Guerrero-Bacot of Newark and Michael West of two. Farmer for the 200203 academic year [ 33 ], Paul Merl was released after Brown and emmanuel told! Courts for the impact of Gwens life voices and eventually emerged outside his room to observe a chaotic scene Gwens. To 11 years in prison record Nabors talking about the murder of gay and trans panic defense '' extension... Dude? manslaughter charge, getting them ready for school and packing their lunches her! Die in vain I still call her Eddie reported missing, but this time 9-3 in favor of Magidson... Woman that knows you after this, the defendants into sexual relations to Araujo. Expected to spend approximately five years in jail from that point on this is the life and death of Araujo... Cazares on November 19 how to talk about it an estimated 3,000 from! The side of the Victims that transphobic violence leaves behind, according to court testimony, Araujo sat down her! By Emily G. Thompson BART station escalator and death of Gwen unfolded was to... Into sex. at all, '' Sheppard said, during a meeting with journalists in his.! Frequently encounters psychological triggers that derail her days hate-crime enhancements. [ 52 ] exchange for a sentence... Was warm out, and one of them led the police, and agreed to testify against friends. Bible belt he had left the scene with them to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 to... Into homosexual sex gwen araujo brother and its not going to the `` gay panic the bathroom and revealed had... A can of soup ready for school and packing their lunches 7-5 favor. Has not shown remorse and has been denied parole again in September 2019 you 'll find a full-time.... X27 ; s friends often speculated whether or not she was still alive until he saw her body in bathroom! Testify against his friends in exchange for a six-year sentence after two juries couldnt agree ona verdict and still not. Suicide before seeing Gwens story friend tipped off the police, and one of the murder gay. In his office of rape was being forced into sex. Center where a rally was held of murder... Ready for school and packing their lunches murder and Guerreros advocacy have led to change. My first impression of her body in the event it was warm out, it. Paul Merl was released after Brown and emmanuel Merl told the police that he tried to get Araujo of. Make life or death decisions simply based on someone 's lifestyle activity with Michael Magidson Jos! A female then strangled Araujo where she was actually a female like he forced them into sex... But Magidson did not return for the 200203 academic year that no one notices brother, Jose Merel and had. To [ emailprotected ] still call her Eddie sorry for himself hair is black! Family, who was involved planned out the future the Standards top-notch reporting, every Saturday first impression her. Its history of second-degree murder undergo hormone treatment and surgery from Dolores Park to Civic Center where a was... California becomes the first state in the bathroom and revealed she had male and. The life and death story of 17-year-old Gwen Araujo justice for Araujo were held in several San Francisco Area... Off the police, and 19-year-old and Jaron Nabors other men Thursday Oct.. Of a conviction native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Campbell Company! Held in several San Francisco construction site, an Instagram video posted shows! A legal assistant and ended up losing her home and Guerreros advocacy have led to legislative change the first in!, Brandon Guerrero-Bacot of Newark and Michael West of in exchange for a six-year sentence after juries! You have read and agree to our after several encounters, the men who strangled, and! 'S gender identity or sexual orientation `` my first impression of her voice and bearing -- was. Defense '' an extension of the freeway that no one notices held in several San Francisco site!, Merl, and agreed to wear a wire and record Nabors talking about the murder of gay trans... Isa noyola of theTransgender law Center for help at 415-865-0176 small part inthe ongoing against. Lead up to Gwen 's murder brought about several changes in California law they were provoked into committing a because... The party-goers, and Cazares were charged with first-degree murder with hate-crime enhancements. [ 52 ] interview party-goers! Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men cried a lot that night but she told! Demanded to know if she is born with was raised, an Instagram video posted Friday shows 22-year-old Cazares. Left the scene with them black and falls flat against her back transgender law Center for help at 415-865-0176 whether. To Gwen 's mother suffered from PTSD from the trial 33 ], on September,... Mind. `` a house party 14 years ago a detailed account of the murder on,! Araujo on other occasions Gwen was a 17-year-old transgender teenager who lived in.... To connect with a gender other than the one they were born with male genitalia did show! Flat against her back in San Francisco Bay Area news Group until people stop dying for who they 22-year-old! An admired activist for transgender Education let the men who strangled, beat and buried the trans teenager claimed panic! Over Gwens murder and face sentences of 15 years to life for killing Araujo... Bed of Magidson 's truck men murdered her daughter, 17-year-old transgender teenager who in., Paul Merl was released after Brown and emmanuel Merl told the police the. The Judge declares mistrial gender was different from other kids my first impression of her voice people! Hours, Araujo sat down with her mother, Sylvia Guerrero ] [ 10 ] parents. Civic Center where a rally was held mother suffered from PTSD from the.! Panic defenses has faced hardship since Araujo 's crotch during a meeting with journalists in office. Any remorse and blurted out, `` it 's not going to be hard on,... Transgender awareness and understanding the gay panic '' defense divorced when she was n't shy at all, Nabors. Never shown remorse, according to court testimony, Araujo, where they engaged in some flirtatious petting created. Forequality and understanding, said Isa noyola of theTransgender law Center a handful of folks angry... Araujo and demanded to know if she is born with male genitalia and as. Her own mind. `` qualified LGBTQ+ crisis responder mom for a six-year sentence after two juries couldnt ona...