Arrest made in killing of man found in women's clothes
[UPDATE, 1:45 p.m.: Charging documents show Green was stabbed in the heart and his underwear had been pulled down to his knees, though detectives do not elaborate on whether there was a sex-related motive to the crime. Detectives did say that the assault appeared to have occurred inside of a vehicle, and that they had "important physical evidence" that linked Douglas to the crime scene. They said Douglas later admitted that he got into an argument with Green that turned physical.]
Police said Tuesday night that they have made an arrest in the October 2009 stabbing death of Darren Green Jr., 25, who was wearing women's clothing when his body was found in the 1500 block of Montpelier St., near a small park. Larry Douglas, 20, has been charged with first-degree murder, and we're trying to track down charging documents to learn more about the circumstances surrounding the killing.
Green was recognized at a Nov. 20, 2009 ceremony at City Hall commemorating International Transgender Day of Remembrance, according to a post on the Baltimore Brew blog. One of the event's attendees, Cynde Kimbrough, founder and director of the Gender Learning Advocacy and Support of System, said Green was one of her clients.
Court records indicate that Green, at least for a time, was a prostitute, arrested a remarkable 11 times over a 24 day span between April and May 2004, including twice on the same day on two separate occasions, for loitering or loitering for the purpose of prostitution. More recently, three months before he was killed, Green had been given a hefty drug sentence of seven years, with all but four months suspended. Records from that case show an alias of "Kelly Bundy."
Comments
Should the caption read transvestite rather than transgender?
Posted by: Mary | March 31, 2010 11:17 AM
Wow, Justin, nice way to go out of your way to criminalize the victim. Loitering... you mean what people do all the time in low-income neighborhoods? Oh, you mean the victim was dressed "incorrectly" by police standards... got it. This is not journalism, it's attempting to legitimize gender oppression and transphobia by using the name of a newspaper.
Actually, it's really an effort to try to discern a possible motive. I was raising the possibility that drugs or prostitution played into the killing. The loitering charges weren't for hanging out, they are clearly prostitution-related. Many of the charges, as I said, specifically note "loitering for the purpose of prostitution." -Justin
Posted by: gina | March 31, 2010 12:38 PM
As Mary said, it's not clear what you mean by "transgender" here. If the victim was born male, being transgendered would mean she lives as a woman and considers herself a woman. In that case you should use female pronouns. That's not the same as a man dressed in women's clothing, or cross-dresser. I understand it's hard because the victim's legal identity may be relevant here, but you should try to be more respectful.
The AP stylebook and the wishes of the transgender community seem to be at odds on this issue, according to some articles I've read, specifically in the Washington City Paper.
Posted by: c | March 31, 2010 4:26 PM
so basically the dude was stabbed for being [gay] or was it a situation of the killer thinking he was buying some sex from a woman and once the pants came down he saw that it was a dude so he killed him so that no one else would think he was gay also? life in bmore.
Posted by: K .johnson | March 31, 2010 7:19 PM
I think the issue is that a human being was murdered and that it was likely because of the victim's gender expression or identity.
Let's give Justin a break on the terminology folk. He hasn't shown any animosity toward the LGBT community and he is bringing us a story that has largely been ignored by the straight press. It must be very hard for a journalist to navigate our nomenclature.
I am pleased that an arrest has been made. Let us pray that we will soon see a story about bringing Glen Footman's killer to justice as well.
Posted by: Dana LaRocca | April 3, 2010 12:18 PM
Justin, with all due respect, there are many trans women of color picked up on suspicion for prostitution for just walking down the street. Many trans women who have been murdered have been inaccurately described by police/press as prostitutes when it turned out later they weren't. I'm not saying she was or wasn't a sexworker, but that determination isn't so clear just because she was arrested for being one.
Posted by: gina | April 9, 2010 2:48 PM
I live as a man but get out all the time as a woman. Am I at risk? I am now scared to get out. Even if it's to just get something to eat.
Posted by: Susy jones | June 1, 2010 1:49 AM