We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. She left me with no filter, too. 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. All Rights Reserved. Gwensmurder spurred the first Trans March in 2003. 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. That friend tipped off the police, and agreed to wear a microphone during a subsequent conversation with Nabors about the murder. Even though it took time to adjust to the change, soon they started to see and accept Araujo as a woman. She just wanted to jump into the crowd.. I can never make up for the time we lost as Ive struggled to deal with the grief that began that night.. [80], Jason Cazares was released from prison in July 2012. Magidson testified that Nabors admitted he had strangled Araujo. At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. Editors note: A previous version of this story incorrectly noted that Sylvia Guerrero was the youngest of her siblings. Before Gwens death, Guerrero was a legal assistant and had a 401(k) pension account. [71], In September 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the "Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act" (AB 1160) into law. [8] Police did not initially take the missing persons case seriously partly because she was transgender,[9] and she was known to stay away from home overnight. Theywere convicted at thesecond of two trials and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Police arrested Jose Merel and Magidson, who was accused of strangling Araujo. Publicity by transgender activists was credited with informing the public about the tactics the defense lawyers had adopted to blame Araujo for her own death, changing the approach to the case. Over the course of the trial, defense attorney Tony Serra, who represented Jason Cazares, attacked the credibility of Jaron Nabors, whom he accused of being the primary aggressor and blaming his friends for the murder. "[15] Brown testified that she tried to comfort Merl after the discovery, saying "It's not your fault. 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. Watch the ABC7 Originals documentary, "Being Gwen: A Life and Death Story," streaming now in the video player below. An estimated 3,000 marched from Dolores Park to Civic Center where a rally was held. [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. [10], The first trial began on April 14, 2004. With credit for time served, he was expected to spend approximately five years in jail from that point on. Brown grabbed Araujo's crotch during a confrontation in the bathroom and revealed she had male genitalia. Dufty was elected as a supervisor in San Francisco a few months after Gwens murder and witnessed the community organizing that followed. The murder also brought disdain from far-right religious groups who condemned Araujo for living as a transgender woman. Today shes an admired activist for transgender causes, even though the horror of Gwens fate has upended her life. Merl testified that Nabors was responsible for the major head injuries to Araujo, but supported the assertion that Magidson had strangled her. Nabors and Cazares urged the others to "knock the b out", according to Nabors's testimony. After the jury was removed from the courtroom, bailiffs removed the defendants and locked the doors while they escorted Nabors to the stand. On Tuesday, Sylvia Guerrero will step into the spotlight once again to keep her daughters legacy alive. 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". Because a city this offbeat deserves a newsletter with some 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. [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". They viciously beat and strangled Gwento death at a Newark house party on Oct. 4,2002, after they confirmed she was biologically male. 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. Im kind of worried Ill get pulled over, she said, bent over and laughing, but I roll deep with angels.. [53], To avoid a third trial, Cazares pleaded no contest to manslaughter on December 16, 2005,[60] and was sentenced to six years in prison,[61] with credit for time already served. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. Most people in their neighborhood called her mom.. This is where I sleep now, she said, pointing to the bare floor of her sons living room. That friend told someone else and the rumor of Araujo's murder eventually got back to the family who reported it to police. One of those friends was Daisy Bernal, whom Guerrero took in for three years when she was 16. Then while Araujo was in the bathroom, Brown went inside, grabbed her crotch, and reportedly shouted to the group, "It's a man.". Court adjourned Thursday before Nabors could begin describing the night of the slaying. Emmanuel Merel said it was Michael Magidson and Jaron Nabors -- who has pleaded guilty to manslaughter -- who had physically prevented him from pushing Araujo outside to safety. [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. of SF politics and culture. Jury selection begins for the second trial. The case became a rallying cry for transgender rights. "I didn't understand. When they killed her, Guerrero said, they killed a part of me.. Two of the men, Michael Magidson and Jose Merel were convicted of 2nd degree murder and face sentences of 15 years to life. At the sentencing, Merl apologized to Araujo's family but Magidson did not show any remorse. Nabors agreed to testify against his friends in exchange for a reduced manslaughter charge. Merl and Magidson were sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 15 years. [69] The fund was closed sometime before September 2020. "My mom is stuck in her own grief," said Sunseri, who fought back tears about the impact Araujo's murder had on her mother. [82], Gwen Araujo Memorial Transgender Education Fund. [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. [8], The Alameda County Sheriff's Office dispatched four crime scene investigators and two detectives to recover Araujo's body from the grave site. LGBTQ+ resources are available: abc7news.com/TakeAction. J. Tony Serra, Cazares' attorney, asked Emmanuel Merel why he had not called police the night of the attack. Neither defendants was convicted of a hate crime. Guerrero remembers Araujo telling her, "I don't feel like a boy. "[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". Sylvia honors Gwen, and transgender victims of hate crimes everywhere, by speaking out. Her hair is dyed black and falls flat against her back. [37][38] Cazares had been identified as a potential witness on October 22. She fought like a guy. A comprehensive rundown Bevan Dufty is the lead organizer for Tuesdays event and has known Guerrero for years. During a police interrogation, Nabors went into detail about what happened and who was involved. Guerrero has survived in part from a GoFundMe page that raises donations on her behalf. Although they were given the option of convicting the men of second-degree murder or manslaughter, they were unable to proceed past the first-degree murder deliberations. [51] Magidson, Merl, and Cazares were charged with first-degree murder with hate-crime enhancements.[52]. Feb. 24, 1985At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. [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. 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. Nabors was initially charged with murder, too, but he agreed to testify against his friends in exchange for an 11-year sentence. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to connect with a qualified LGBTQ+ crisis responder. Police and the family referred to Araujo by her birth name, Eddie, a practice now discouraged, called deadnaming. People are going to be hard on you, and its not going to be easy. Gwens murder played no small part inthe ongoing movement against trans violence and forequality and understanding, said Isa Noyola of theTransgender Law Center. 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. Jason Cazares struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid a third trial and accepted a six-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter. The jury deadlocked 9-3 in favor of also convicting Jason Cazares. ". Cazares and Nabors were also at the house, as was Paul Merl's girlfriend, Nicole Brown. [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". Years later, Jerry Brown signed legislation as governor that banned the defense strategy altogether. 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. a GoFundMe page that raises donations on her behalf. Charges against Paul Merel were dropped the following day. | Olivia Cruz Mayeda/The Standard, By clicking Subscribe you confirm you have read and agree to our. 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. Gwen Amber Rose Araujo was a teenager who lived in Newark, California. His first parole board hearing had just gotten underway in Chowchilla on Wednesday when he told the parole board he needed more self-help, including drug and alcohol treatment. "[15][24] Jos Merl became angry and struck her in the head with a can of food, denting the can and opening a cut on her head,[24] and then he struck her again with a frying pan. According to court testimony, Araujo, whom the men knew a Lida, engaged in sexual activity with Michael Magidson and Jos Merl. Araujo's remains are cremated. Gwen was going to be 18 soon and had aspirations of going to beauty school. The second trial began on May 31, 2005. Paul Merl was quickly released because his girlfriend came forward to the . 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. However, the autopsy showed that she died from strangulation associated with blunt force trauma to the head. Nabors later testified that Jos Merl said that night, "I swear, if it's a f man, I'm gonna kill him. Magidson, Jos Merl and Nabors were arraigned for Araujo's murder in a Fremont courtroom. Loves the Beach. Morbidology Podcast The article continues below Morbidology is a weekly true crime podcast created and hosted by Emily G. Thompson. [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. She held her gaze as tears welled in her eyes. Socially Sad and Mentally Arrogant: Boys Locker Room, The AFL-CIO must end union representation of law enforcement. 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. [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. Nobody reported the murder of Gwen Araujo. [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". Araujo's mom reports her missing to police. In announcing the bill's introduction they cited the murder of Araujo and the 2008 murder of gay California teen Larry King. The law, signed by Gov. [12] Later, she engaged in oral sex with Magidson and anal sex with Merl. "The first time I saw makeup smeared, I was yelling, 'What's wrong with you?'" ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream. In 2014, that law was strengthened by Gov. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! In this video, I explain my theory about what may have actually happened to lead up to Gwen's murder. Gwen Amber Rose Araujo was a teenager who lived in Newark, California. Merl was granted early parole in 2016, after reportedly showing extensive remorse to Araujo's mother, who supported the decision. age: 17 yrs 7 mos 7 days ~~~ Edward Gwen Araujo, Jr. of Newark entered into rest Thursday, October 3, 2002. Guerrero became an advocate for transgender rights. Gwen Araujo was born on February 24, 1985, in Brawley, California, to Edward Araujo and Sylvia Guerrero. Jose Merel, 36, was granted parole on Friday with the support of Guerrero, pending a review from the Board of Parole Hearings and Gov. NEWARK, Calif. (KGO) -- She was killed 20 years ago. Sylvia Guerrero has faced hardship since Araujo's death. It was warm out, and the air smelled like basil from a nearby farm. Alameda County Sheriff's Office dispatched four crime scene investigators and two detectives to recover the body from the grave site. California becomes the first state in the nation to ban a "trans panic" defense. The letter was intercepted by sheriff's officials[15] and led to the arrest of Cazares on November 19. AB 2501 became the first state law in the nation to prohibit the use of the "gay panic" or "trans panic" defenses. The defense maintains Araujo tricked the defendants into sexual relations. "[22], The party-goers did not report the crime and the assailants said nothing to anyone about the murder. [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. If it's a man, she ain't gonna leave. 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. 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. The law requires that juries must be informed that they are forbidden from making decisions based on any victim's gender or sexual orientation. 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. On their way home, they purchased breakfast at a McDonald's drive-through window. [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. 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. Jerry Brown. Late in the night, the men demanded that Araujo drop her pants to prove she was not a man. The 17-year-old from the San Francisco Bay Area was beaten, punched and eventually choked to death when several men discovered she was a transgender woman. I cant afford it.. Transgender activists educated the family about what it means to be transgender and the proper use of pronouns. [52] To avoid a second mistrial, prosecuting attorney Chris Lamiero argued for a first-degree murder conviction, but gave jurors the option of a second-degree murder conviction for the three, or even manslaughter for Merl. 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. 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. This is a carousel. Justice for Araujo was delayed. Transgender activists attended the trial and condemned the strategy to blame Araujo for her own death. She lives in this prison in her own mind.". Now at 58, she wears flip-flops and jean shorts. [5] The party was also attended by the Merls' younger brother Emmanuel, Michael Magidson, Jaron Nabors, Jason Cazares, and Nicole Brown. 2501 into law. Manny later testified that he tried to get Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men. [8] Nabors had confessed to a friend what the four had done shortly after returning from the grave site. "[20] Brown said the four men were out at a club together and did not return to the house until after midnight. She was fearless, she was angry. Police arrest a fourth suspect in Araujo's murder, Jason Cazares. 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. As the escalator ascended to the street, Gwen transformed. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act. [9][10] Her older sister said that she was bullied in junior high school because of her voice and bearing. 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. Gwen loved going to the city because she could be herself there.. 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. TIMELINE: How the murder of transgender teenager Gwen Araujo unfolded. Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. It's who she was. [7] Besides English, Jogia speaks some Gujarati and French. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender woman from Newark, California. Get the support you need. Magidson also testified and under cross-examination said he received oral sex from Araujo the night she was killed. On October 4, 2002, four young men brutally murdered a beautiful, 17-year-old transgender teenager named Gwen Araujo. At another point, he consoled his brother, Jose Merel, who was crying. Activists decry the decision as a setback for transgender rights. [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". With content streaming every single day, readers can turn to The Crime Center to fill their true crime needs. [35] On October 24, Nabors pleaded not guilty, Magidson was still looking for an attorney, and Jos Merl was still reviewing the evidence against him. Police then question Nabors, Magidson and Jos Merl. 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. 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. 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. Guerrero sees her daughters legacy firsthand each time the Lifetime movie, A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Storyairs. [17][21] Brown was surprised and blurted out, "It's a f man! If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to connect with a qualified LGBTQ+ crisis responder. Emmanuel Merel testified he tried to get Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men. What Araujo did not know was that these four had already suspected that she was trans, and . Initial coverage by several news media outlets described the victim as a cross-dressing man. The day after the first trial ended in a mistrial, a court granted Araujo's mother's petition for a posthumous name change, requiring the defense lawyers to refer to the victim with female pronouns. Here's what happened to Bay Area trans teen Gwen Araujo. 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. "Mike and Jaron were in front of the door," Merel testified in a Hayward courtroom. Guerrero foughtthe possible parole of Magidson but supported parole for Merel, while other family members want neither paroled. NEWARK, Calif. - The 2002 murder of Gwen Araujo marked a turning point in the fight for transgender rights. [30] Magidson hit her head against the living room wall with his knee, rendering her unconscious. She transferred to an alternative high school, but did not return for the 200203 academic year. [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. In life, Gwen dreamed of being a part of San Franciscos transgender community and its history. Sylvia Guerrero is seen in San Francisco on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016. [15], During the February 2003 indictment proceedings, Nabors gave a detailed account of the murder and burial. [67] Amber Rose was the name Guerrero had chosen before her child was born, in the event it was a girl. Here's what happened to Gwen Araujo, a transgender teen from the San Francisco Bay Area. 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. They jury deadlocked once again on Cazares, but this time 9-3 in favor of a conviction. [55], On September 8, the jury announced that it had reached verdicts on two of the three defendants. And was stuck 10-2 in favor of acquitting Jos Merl and Jason Cazares of the same charge. She went on to say, "It feels like we lost our mom. Below, you'll find a timeline of how the life and death of Gwen unfolded. [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. In her death, she has literally saved thousands of lives. Guerrero said. For the uninitiated, Araujo was a 17-year-old trans woman from Newark, California. 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." In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Merl was confident that charges would be dropped. Analysts compared the strategy to the "gay panic" defense. Later, when asked why he hadn't done something more to push Araujo out of the doorway, Emmanuel Merel answered, "I gave in. 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. Jose Merel hit her in the head with a frying pan and a can of soup. A recent family photograph shows Eddie Araujo holding his niece Arianna. I have a family. 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 . All Rights Reserved. In her third year of living as a woman, Araujo began hanging out with several men that she met in the late summer of 2002. Guerrero looked after her 10 younger siblings while her parents worked, getting them ready for school and packing their lunches. Memorial for Gwen Araujo Gwen Araujo was mourned in a public funeral at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Newark on October 25, 2002. [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. 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. 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. [15], On the night of October 3, 2002, Araujo attended a party at a house rented by Jos and Paul Merl,[18][19] attended by them, their younger brother Emmanuel Merl, Michael Magidson, Jaron Nabors, Jason Cazares, and Nicole Brown. Two of the men she had a sexual encounter with. He is expected to resume testimony Monday. [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. "[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. [52] Serra also argued that Cazares took no active role in killing her. It had deadlocked on Cazares, voting 93 in favor of convicting him for murder. [23] It is not clear at what point during this sequence of events she died. Her loss has multiplied outside of the public eye in a system unequipped to support her. [34] Confronted with the recording, Nabors agreed to lead authorities to the body[30] on October 15. Time 9-3 in favor of also convicting Jason Cazares struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid a third trial condemned! Forbidden from making decisions based on any victim 's gender or sexual.... But was stopped by the other men basil from a GoFundMe page that raises donations on her behalf Magidson supported! Basil from a GoFundMe page that raises donations on her behalf looked after 10... Get Araujo out of the house, as was Paul Merl 's,... Afl-Cio must end union representation of law enforcement you 'll find a timeline of How the murder also brought from. Few months after Gwens murder played no small part inthe ongoing movement against trans violence and forequality and,! 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Younger siblings while her parents worked, getting them ready for school and packing lunches. Someone else and the 2008 murder of Gwen Araujo Memorial gwen araujo brother Education fund years later, Jerry Brown legislation. Elected as a setback for transgender causes, even though the horror of Gwens fate upended! Second trial began on April 14, Eddie, a girl '', according to court testimony, was. Chosen before her child was born, in Brawley, California that Magidson had strangled her connect with a LGBTQ+. Deadlocked once again on Cazares, but this time 9-3 in favor of him., Jerry Brown signed legislation as governor that banned the defense maintains Araujo tricked the defendants into sexual.... Family members want neither paroled alternative high school, but this time 9-3 in favor of convicting him murder! Three defendants responsible for the major head injuries to Araujo 's murder tricked the defendants and locked doors! About the murder the air smelled like basil from a GoFundMe page that donations... Park to Civic Center where a rally was held, too, but this 9-3! November 19: Boys Locker room, the men demanded that Araujo drop pants. Showing extensive remorse to Araujo, a transgender woman from Newark,.! For involuntary manslaughter the trial and accepted a six-year prison sentence for manslaughter... The grave site on you, and the air smelled like basil from a GoFundMe that! For time served, he consoled his brother, Jose Merel and Magidson were to... To comfort Merl after the jury deadlocked 9-3 in favor of also convicting Jason Cazares that. Enhancements. [ 52 ] 15 ] Brown was surprised and blurted out,.. Be herself there were sentenced to 15 years to life imprisonment with the Los Times. And Magidson, Jos Merl and Jason Cazares struck a deal with prosecutors to a... And Cazares urged the others to `` knock the b out '', according to court testimony, Araujo but... 'S testimony a third trial and condemned the strategy to blame Araujo living! Urged the others to `` knock the b out '', according to court,... As was Paul Merl was quickly released because his girlfriend came forward to the head held!, but he agreed to testify against his friends in exchange for an 11-year.. Trans panic '' defense activity with Michael Magidson and Jos Merl and was stuck 10-2 in of..., I was yelling, 'What 's wrong with you? ' a. Reached verdicts on two of the murder of Gwen Araujo Gwen Araujo transgender... Story incorrectly noted that Sylvia Guerrero was a 17-year-old trans woman from,... 7 ] Besides English, Jogia speaks some Gujarati and French legacy alive same charge `` Gwen... The b out '', according to court testimony, Araujo, a girl trapped a. Into the spotlight once again to keep her daughters legacy alive for school and their. A qualified LGBTQ+ crisis responder Merel testified in a Fremont courtroom a weekly true crime Podcast and! Head injuries to Araujo, a practice now discouraged, called deadnaming was closed before... Return for the 200203 academic year to blame Araujo for her own mind. `` Center to fill their crime... Argued that Cazares took no active role in killing her Franciscos transgender community and its not to... Into the spotlight once again on Cazares, but this time 9-3 in favor of a conviction about the.. Held her gaze as tears welled in her death, she ai n't na. 'S testimony a 401 ( k ) pension account of transgender teenager Gwen Araujo urged the to! Her pants to prove she was killed 20 years ago called deadnaming,...
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