Murder of LA Transwoman, Melony Smith, misgendered and disrespected almost went unnoticed

The mainstream media reported Ms Smith's murder using her birth name, further obscuring her identity by misgendering her. Thanks to Lexi Cannes her death will not go unnoticed.
 TransPride LA has verified a way to help with the final expenses of this young immigrant, but only a couple days remain before she is laid to rest.

The following article is one of only a few mentioning her death and a prime example of why we almost didn't know about her authentic gender.
**Trigger warning:
Source The San Gabriel Valley Tribune: BALDWIN PARK - A suspect has been identified in the beating death of a 26-year-old Baldwin Park man found dead inside a motel room earlier this week, officials said.

Stephen Gonzales, 28, of West Covina, was behind bars Thursday after being arrested by deputies from the sheriff’s Industry Station Wednesday on suspicion of drug possession, Lt. David Coleman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said. He was expected to be charged with the murder of Vanhxay Inthichack (Melony Smith) this week or early next week.

Inthichack’s body was discovered about 1:30 p.m. Monday inside a motel room he had rented in the 13900 block of Francisquito Avenue, investigators said.

Though it was not immediately clear how he died, an autopsy determined he had been beaten to death and the case was ultimately ruled a homicide, coroner’s officials said.

A motive in the alleged slaying was not clear, nor was the relationship between Inthichack and Gonzales.

Detectives identified Gonzales as a suspect through cell phone information and surveillance footage near the crime scene.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

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Trans Pride L.A. · 1,323 like this

12 hours ago · 

• UPDATE to previous update re: the death of Melony Smith. Many have wondered why there was no media coverage of this brutal murder.
  
  There was in fact coverage of the attack, but Melony was completely misgendered, using only her birth name, with NO mention at all was made of her trans status. Trans Pride L.A. has respectfully emailed the reporter of the story to ask that he please update his story and recognize Melony as she truly was. The story can be found here: http://bit.ly/160HmP4
  
  We also would like to update that those who would like to contribute to the fund to help pay for funeral expenses should go to the link provided below and NOT the PayPal account mentioned previously.
  
  http://bit.ly/167Wc0c

  
  

  
  

  Help Support Melony Smith Funeral Expenses

  www.giveforward.com
  

  Transgender girl was torture and murder, label as a hate crime. Need money for her funeral expenses. A short life, a tragic ending. a sweet transgender girl, on her way to getting her life together from a cruel world. Saving money for a car and going to 

Donations need to be made by the 18th. Donate at GiveForward. We need to take care of our own, but sadly I could not afford the lowest level of donations the fundraiser offered. I emailed the fundraisers author and asked her to lower the donation levels.

I have reached out to Brian Day the author of  The San Gabriel Valley Tribune's post which made no mention of her status via twitter, facebook and comments. I hope Mr Day will edit his article to at least make a mention of her transgender status

Brian Day has asked in this tweet that people contact him that knew Melony Smith.

@kellibusey I understand your feelings, but can't publish a story based on social media posts. Those who knew the victim, please contact me.
— Brian Day (@sgvcrime) September 15, 2013

You can comment on the sgvTribune's facebook posting of their article here.

• A suspect has been identified in the beating death of a 26-year-old Baldwin Park man found dead inside a motel room earlier this week, officials said.

  
  

  Suspect identified in Baldwin Park motel slaying

  www.sgvtribune.com
  

  Like ·  · Share

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    Kelli Anne Busey I am commenting in response to Brian Day's article "Suspect identified in Baldwin Park motel slaying" by Brian Day.
    There was no mention of the victim being transgender or her preferred name.
    It is my hope you update your article before she is laid to rest.
    Thank you, 
    kelli Busey
    planetransgender
    
    Murdered LA Transwoman, Immigrant Melony Smith, misgendered and disrespected almost went unnoticed
    http://planetransgender.blogspot.com/...

    Like · Reply · about a minute ago · Edited

R.I.P Melony Smith dear sister.

Ashanti Mcalister gets life for murder of Trans Rapper Evon (YungLT) Young

One of the five men arrested for the murder of  Milwaukee rap artist Evon Young was sentenced to life in prison on September 13th.

Wisconsin Gazette: A jury found 19-year-old Ashanti Mcalister guilty on June 27 of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of 22-year-old Evon Young, a transgender rapper who also was known as Yung LT. 


On Sept. 12, Mcalister was sentenced to life in prison.

Young disappeared New Year’s Day. Police say that Mcalister and four others were involved in Young’s death and then disposed of his body in a trash bin. 



According to testimony, Mcalister shot Young’s body three times after Young had been suffocated and strangled in the basement of his home. 


Mcalister could request parole in 53 years.

Two others arrested in connection with Young’s death entered into plea agreements, which require them to testify against the other defendants. Their sentencing will take place next month.

A fourth man, Ron Allen, will go on trial in October.
And a fifth man, Young’s roommate, Billy Griffin, will have a retrial in November after a jury could not reach a verdict in the first trial