Guerrero has survived in part from a GoFundMe page that raises donations on her behalf. ", HAYWARD / Suspect's brother says he tried to aid Araujo / He testifies others blocked him from rescuing victim. She got a grant from the Horizons Foundation to speak at schools about what it is like to raise a transgender child and the challenges transgender youth face in society. Cherished brother to Pearl and Jesus Serrano of CA, Rachel Araujo of Bakersfield, Brandon Guerrero-Bacot of Newark and Michael West of. age: 17 yrs 7 mos 7 days ~~~ Edward Gwen Araujo, Jr. of Newark entered into rest Thursday, October 3, 2002. [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". [30] Magidson hit her head against the living room wall with his knee, rendering her unconscious. Cazares, Magidson, Merl:First trial:MistrialSecond trial: 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. 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. Lesser included offense for Cazares and Merl. [30] Later that morning, during a phone conversation, Brown asked Jos Merl what happened, to which he replied "Let's just say she had a long walk home. The jury is unable to reach a guilty verdict and the judge declares mistrial. On October 4, 2002, four young men brutally murdered a beautiful, 17-year-old transgender teenager named Gwen Araujo. (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 was fearless, she was angry. But her murder is still important today. [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. Emmanuel Merel said he later had left the house with his older brother, Paul Merel, and the brother's girlfriend, Nicole Brown. On the evening of October 3rd, she attended a house party with a number of other people, including Jaron Nabors, Michael Madison, Paul Merel, and his brother Jose Merel. [9][10] Her older sister said that she was bullied in junior high school because of her voice and bearing. 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. The first trial started on April 14, 2004 and ended in a hung jury against Magidson, Merel and Cazares. Nabors, testifying for the prosecution, stated that Magidson admitted to strangling 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. They viciously beat and strangled Gwento death at a Newark house party on Oct. 4,2002, after they confirmed she was biologically male. The letter was intercepted by sheriff's officials[15] and led to the arrest of Cazares on November 19. Merl and Magidson were sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Gwen Amber Rose Araujo (February 24, 1985 - October 4, 2002 [1]) was an American teenager who was murdered in Newark, California. Questions, comments or concerns about this article may be sent to [emailprotected]. LGBTQ+ resources are available: abc7news.com/TakeAction. PLEASE VERIFY RIGHTS. "She had no problem flirting.". Most people in their neighborhood called her mom.. Araujo had been hogtied, bludgeoned, strangled to death, and then transported to the remote location to be buried beneath rocks in a shallow grave, The Mercury News reported. She was the oldest of 11 children to immigrant parents from Irapuato, Mexico. Trans people are being killed in record numbers. [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. In 2005, California Gov. At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. NEWARK, Calif. - The 2002 murder of Gwen Araujo marked a turning point in the fight for transgender rights. [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. Michael Magidson and Jos Merl were sentenced to 15 years to life for killing Gwen Araujo. [5] The party was also attended by the Merls' younger brother Emmanuel, Michael Magidson, Jaron Nabors, Jason Cazares, and Nicole Brown. She frequently encounters psychological triggers that derail her days. NEWARK, Calif. (KGO) -- She was killed 20 years ago. Even though it took time to adjust to the change, soon they started to see and accept Araujo as a woman. I feel like he forced them into homosexual sex, and my definition of rape was being forced into sex." What Araujo did not know was that these four had already suspected that she was trans, and . On the night of Oct. 3, 2002, Araujo attended a party at a house rented by Jos and Paul Merl. [71], In September 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the "Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act" (AB 1160) into law. The program includes police interrogation videos and court evidence not previously seen by the public since the well-publicized trials of her killers more than 15 years ago. The other two defendants pleaded guilty or no-contest to voluntary manslaughter. At the sentencing, Merl apologized to Araujo's family but Magidson did not show any remorse. Manny later testified that he tried to get Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men. 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. [78][79] The law further restricted the use of the gay/trans panic defense by amending California's manslaughter statute to prohibit defendants from claiming that they were provoked to murder by discovering a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. 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. [67] Amber Rose was the name Guerrero had chosen before her child was born, in the event it was a girl. People are going to be hard on you, and its not going to be easy. 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. [25][26] The last words Merl heard Araujo speak were "I told you I was sorry. 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. I dont have my nails done. She says she receives emails from all over the world. Nobody reported the murder of Gwen Araujo. Sunseri said. 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. "It is for this witness' safety," Sheppard said, during a meeting with journalists in his office. Earlier in the day, Alameda Superior Court Judge Harry R. Sheppard ordered the media not to photograph Nabors. Eddie then began transitioning as a woman and called herself Gwen, after her favorite singer Gwen Stefani. EDWARD 'GWEN' ARAUJO, JR. Of Newark entered into rest Thursday, October 3, 2002. An estimated 3,000 marched from Dolores Park to Civic Center where a rally was held. [23] It is not clear at what point during this sequence of events she died. The case was also the subject of a 2007 documentary, An episode of the Investigation Discovery channel series, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 04:32. "I know that their force is what stopped us from getting her out of the house.". Copyright 2023 KGO-TV. but none of the four men took the thought seriously. Jos Merl, who cried in anguish about having sex with Araujo, then struck her with a frying pan and a can of food. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to connect with a qualified LGBTQ+ crisis responder. After Araujo was knocked unconscious, Magidson bound her wrists and ankles, then she was wrapped in a comforter to minimize the amount of blood staining the carpet, before being carried to the garage of the home. 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. [55], On September 8, the jury announced that it had reached verdicts on two of the three defendants. East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. I went to high school with you, and you were on the football team. 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. At one point, he said, he saw Magidson choking Araujo and pulled Magidson's arm off the victim. 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. AB 2501 became the first state law in the nation to prohibit the use of the "gay panic" or "trans panic" defenses. "[22], The party-goers did not report the crime and the assailants said nothing to anyone about the murder. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Merl was confident that charges would be dropped. In 2014, that law was strengthened by Gov. [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. He was awakened by loud voices and eventually emerged outside his room to observe a chaotic scene. Sylvia honors Gwen, and transgender victims of hate crimes everywhere, by speaking out. It was just a passing thought, and no one took it seriously, he said. Then while Araujo was in the bathroom, Brown went inside, grabbed her crotch, and reportedly shouted to the group, "It's a man.". Her family reported her missing, but police had no information about her disappearance until Nabors told a close friend about what happened. [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. When asked how she forced them, Nabors answered, "Through deception. She was loving, vibrant, and beautiful. Cherished brother to Pearl and Jesus Serrano of C Gwen Araujo's murder brought about several changes in California law. Below, you'll find a timeline of how the life and death of Gwen unfolded. [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". Alameda County Sheriff's Office dispatched four crime scene investigators and two detectives to recover the body from the grave site. Magidson testified that Nabors admitted he had strangled Araujo. All Rights Reserved. On their way home, they purchased breakfast at a McDonald's drive-through window. Here's what happened to Bay Area trans teen Gwen Araujo. [8], Araujo first met Michael Magidson, Jos Merl, Jaron Nabors, and Jason Cazares in late August or early September 2002. [31] Merl was concerned with cleaning Araujo's blood off the couch[30] and carpet before retreating to his room so the others would not see him crying.[23]. [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. Guerrero, who was making good money as a legal assistant at a San Jose law firm when Gwen died, is now homeless, shuttling her neatly packed belongings between relatives homes in a friends borrowed car. Deputy District Attorney Chris Lamiero announced he will seek a second trial. 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. 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. Gwen Araujo is born to Sylvia Guerrero and Edward Araujo. If they actually did know, then why did they kill her? [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. [22], When Nabors and Cazares returned, Araujo was still conscious, bleeding from her head wound and sitting on the couch. We still have a long way to go, because people like Gwen are still being murdered for whothey are and theresfamilies who are suffering like we are, said Guerrero, 52. The men became suspicious that Araujo was not biologically female because she did not let them touch her genitalia. [8], Paul Merl was released after Brown and Emmanuel Merl told the police that he had left the scene with them. 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. The jury deadlocked 9-3 in favor of also convicting Jason Cazares. One of the many factors that parole boards consider is the impact on the victims family. Nabors takes police to the site where they buried Araujo's body. "When Gwen was murdered that night, it was the beginning of a life sentence for me and my family," Guerrero told the publication. Curating the best of The Standards top-notch reporting, every Saturday. After she left, Nabors asked the other three "Could this be a dude?" She left me with no filter, too. 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. Jaron Nabors pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter and agrees to testify against his three friends in exchange for an 11 year prison term. As they were burying her, the men continued to disparage her. [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". "[23], At some point after that, Brown woke Paul Merl, and they left the house with Emmanuel Merl. I was not perfect, Guerrero said, reflecting on that moment decades later. Turn it off, turn it off, turn it off a male is repeating.. Why Are We Indifferent to Male Rape Victims. California Gov. Seventeen states now have bans on the use of gay and trans panic defenses. [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. Nabors took the stand under tight security. | Olivia Cruz Mayeda/The Standard, By clicking Subscribe you confirm you have read and agree to our. 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. Guerrero is the mother of slain transgender teen Gwen Araujo, 17, of Newark. TIMELINE: How the murder of transgender teenager Gwen Araujo unfolded. [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. "My mom is stuck in her own grief," said Sunseri, who fought back tears about the impact Araujo's murder had on her mother. Police and the family referred to Araujo by her birth name, Eddie, a practice now discouraged, called deadnaming. [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. 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. Back in Tracy, Guerrero examined a broken taillight on her car while holding her daughters framed picture in her left hand. Jury selection begins for the second trial. [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. During a police interrogation, Nabors went into detail about what happened and who was involved. My daughter in 2002 brought the trans community to the forefront, and changes began since then, said Guerrero, who returns to heractivism for the trans community with a speaking engagement in Fullerton next month. 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. They also deadlocked 7-5 in favor of convicting Magidson of first-degree murder. [23] Merl also said he thought she was still alive until he saw her body in the bed of Magidson's truck. In the fall of 2002, Araujo met Michael Magidson, 22, who invited her to hang out with his friends. [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. "[15] Brown testified that she tried to comfort Merl after the discovery, saying "It's not your fault. [17][21] Brown was surprised and blurted out, "It's a f man! That friend told someone else and the rumor of Araujo's murder eventually got back to the family who reported it to police. [30] At some point, the assault resumed. Also at the gathering were Paul's girlfriend, Nicole Brown, and friends Jason Cazares, 22, and Jaron Nabors, 19. At age 14, Araujo sat down with her mom for a heart-to-heart talk. He also said that he and Jose Merel had been alone in a bedroom with Araujo, where they engaged in some flirtatious petting. I still call her mom when I talk to 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. 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