Carla Pavon

Police release few details in 9th trans murder in U.S. in 2018

DAVID TAFFET | Senior Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com

Dallas police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect in the murder of Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon, the ninth known transgender woman killed in the U.S. so far in 2018.

Flores-Pavon, 26, was found unconscious in her North Dallas apartment Wednesday afternoon. Dallas Fire and Rescue called officers to the scene, at 6104 LBJ Service Road, about 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 9. She was transported by ambulance to the hospital, where she was declared dead, according to a statement by Dallas police.

Initial police reports listed Flores-Pavon’s age as 18.

Police said that an “unknown Latin male” was seen leaving the apartment shortly before she was found unconscious. According to police reports, “the victim exhibited signs that she died from homicidal violence.” Initial reports indicate she was choked to death.

Police also say there is “no evidence at this time to suggest this homicide was the result of a hate crime.”

Flores-Pavon’s Facebook page says she was married to Miguel Diaz on Dec. 19, 2017. Diaz’s Facebook page indicates he lives in Brighton, Colo.
Police have asked that anyone with information about this murder contact Det. Tommy Raley at 214-283-4856.

Last year there were 27 murders of trans people in the U.S., mostly trans women of color. The eight other trans women murdered so far in 2018 are:
• Jan. 5, Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, 42, in North Adams, Mass., was stabbed and beaten to death by her husband.
• Jan. 10, Viccky Gutierrez, 33, in Los Angeles, was stabbed and set ablaze. Kevyn Ramirez, 29, was arrested in connection with her death.
• Feb. 4, Celine Walker, 36, in Jacksonville, Fla., was shot to death. No arrest has been made.
• Feb. 6, Tonya Harvey, 35, in Buffalo, N.Y., was shot to death. No arrest has been made.
• Feb. 19, Zakaria Fry, 28, in Albuquerque, M.N., suffered blunt force trauma to the head and face. Her landlord, 70-year-old Eugene Carroll Ray, was also murdered at the same time. Charles Anthony Spiess, 27, has been arrested and charged in their deaths.
• Feb. 23, Phylicia Mitchell, 45, in Cleveland, Ohio, was shot to death. Gary Sanders, 36, has been charged in her murder.
• March 26, Amia Tyrae Berryman, 28, in Baton Rouge, La., was shot to death. No arrest has been made.
• April 1, Sasha Wall, 29, in Chesterfield County, S.C., was shot to death. No arrest has been made.