Then while Araujo was in the bathroom, Brown went inside, grabbed her crotch, and reportedly shouted to the group, "It's a man.". 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. Araujo was born with male genitalia but her immediate family noticed early on that she identified more easily with being a girl than a boy. California Gov. I can never make up for the time we lost as Ive struggled to deal with the grief that began that night.. According to Nabors, Magidson "wasn't sure if Lida had died from twisting the rope, but once Jason hit her twice with the shovel, he knew she was dead". 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. Michael Magidson and Jos Merl were sentenced to 15 years to life for killing Gwen Araujo. J. Tony Serra, Cazares' attorney, asked Emmanuel Merel why he had not called police the night of the attack. [55], On September 8, the jury announced that it had reached verdicts on two of the three defendants. Fred Phelps and the members of Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church ( who also made an appearance in our last article) promised to picket the funeral but thankfully did not. By early morning on Oct. 4, the men questioned Araujo and demanded to know if she is biologically male. 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. [8], Araujo first met Michael Magidson, Jos Merl, Jaron Nabors, and Jason Cazares in late August or early September 2002. Michael Magidson, 23, Jose Merel, 24, and Jason Cazares, 24, are on trial for murder in the killing of the 17-year-old Araujo. NEWARK19E-C-18OCT02-MT-HO [9], On the first anniversary of the murder, Horizons Foundation created the Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund for Transgender Education. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream. Guerrero has survived in part from a GoFundMe page that raises donations on her behalf. Ill never forget the day Sylvia opened the door to her house, said Bernal, now a single mother of seven. Emmanuel Merel testified he tried to get Araujo out of the house but was stopped by the other men. I have a family. Some call her mom., She didnt die in vain. She lost her job as a legal assistant and ended up losing her home. bitea dose of arts, culture and more. Her loss has multiplied outside of the public eye in a system unequipped to support her. After several encounters, the men grew suspicious about why she wouldn't let the men touch her parts of her body. NEWARK, Calif., -- The murder of Gwen Araujo in 2002 marked a turning point in the fight for transgender rights. Her mother found it to be odd but did not put much thought into it. One can debate the propriety of one choosing to identify with a gender other than the one they were born with. [12], Jos Merl vomited upon learning Araujo was anatomically male, then began to cry in disbelief,[23] saying "I can't be f gay. "It is for this witness' safety," Sheppard said, during a meeting with journalists in his office. Immediately after, she appeared on talk shows and at events with her hair styled, wearing crisp button-downs and leather boots. 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. Magidson, however, has reportedly never shown remorse and has been denied parole twice since his sentencing. I never heard of the word transgender until she died.". Investigators got Nabors' friend to wear a wire and record Nabors talking about the murder. After the jury was removed from the courtroom, bailiffs removed the defendants and locked the doors while they escorted Nabors to the stand. And poor eight-year-old Noah is growing up in the midwest Bible belt . This publication will provide readers with the best true crime content on Medium. Two of the men, Michael Magidson and Jose Merel were convicted of 2nd degree murder and face sentences of 15 years to life. That friend told someone else and the rumor of Araujo's murder eventually got back to the family who reported it to police. They jury deadlocked once again on Cazares, but this time 9-3 in favor of a conviction. "She had no problem flirting.". Neither defendants was convicted of a hate crime. Araujo also became an inspiration in the transgender community. Like the little flowers on the side of the freeway that no one notices. [7] Besides English, Jogia speaks some Gujarati and French. He is the younger brother of Ketan, a music producer in London. He was awakened by loud voices and eventually emerged outside his room to observe a chaotic scene. [37][38] Cazares had been identified as a potential witness on October 22. [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. [25][31] Nabors testified that Magidson's assault was so severe it left a dent in the wall and cracked the plaster. Over the next few hours, Araujo was punched and beaten as she tried repeatedly to escape the house. They are 22-year-old Michael Magidson, 22-year-old Jos Merl, 22-year-old Jason Cazares, and 19-year-old and Jaron Nabors. 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. Nicole Brown, Paul Merl and Emmanual Merl left the house while Araujo was still bleeding in the living room. "[20] Brown said the four men were out at a club together and did not return to the house until after midnight. "[22], After Araujo was brought back into the house, Magidson grabbed at her skirt and underwear in an attempt to expose her genitals. [19], TransVision, a comprehensive health and social services program for transgender people in Alameda County, was founded in 2002 and operated by Tri-City Health Center after the murder of Gwen Araujo. [25] Jos Merl became concerned that Araujo was bleeding on the couch and ordered her off it. [23] Merl also said he thought she was still alive until he saw her body in the bed of Magidson's truck. 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. Magidson was called out for being unrepentant at his sentencing and still has not shown remorse, according to Guerrero. Ive always loved San Francisco, Guerrero said. of SF politics and culture. She was loving, vibrant, and beautiful. Now its a huge trans event that kicks off the San Francisco Pride weekend. Lesser included offense for Cazares and Merl. Four men brutally murdered her. The first trial started on April 14, 2004 and ended in a hung jury against Magidson, Merel and Cazares. 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 . Only 17 years old at the time of her death, today Gwen would be a 27-year-old young woman had her life not been brutally taken by four men who discovered she was born male. [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. [9][10] Her older sister said that she was bullied in junior high school because of her voice and bearing. She walked into the house with It was a beautiful conversation that Ill always cherish, Guerrero said. [25][26] The last words Merl heard Araujo speak were "I told you I was sorry. Merl testified that Nabors was responsible for the major head injuries to Araujo, but supported the assertion that Magidson had strangled her. [11] The night they met Araujo, she flirted with all four men and they smoked marijuana together. The other two defendants pleaded guilty or no-contest to voluntary manslaughter. And if you or anyone you know is being bullied, call the Transgender Law Center for help at 415-865-0176. 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. Cazares pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for a six-year sentence after two juries couldnt agree ona verdict. Especially in today's society, she would have been rejected if not harmed had she been so open about it. [34][49] While the jury agreed that Araujo had been murdered, they could not agree whether it was premeditated. On the night of Oct. 3, 2002, Araujo attended a party at a house rented by Jos and Paul Merl. Nabors said Cazares and Magidson had first brought Araujo, whom the group knew as an attractive 19-year-old named "Lida," to the Merel home in late August or early September 2002. When trans people are painted in negative, stigmatized portrayals by politicians and so-called legal experts as has happened with ongoing bathroom policy debates the trans community gets marked for ridicule and violence, she said. Feb. 24, 1985At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. In 2005, California Gov. Nabors was initially charged with murder, too, but he agreed to testify against his friends in exchange for an 11-year sentence. With content streaming every single day, readers can turn to The Crime Center to fill their true crime needs. Gwen Araujo was a 17-year-old transgender teenager who lived in Newark, Calif. with her mother, Sylvia Guerrero. With credit for time served, he was expected to spend approximately five years in jail from that point on. 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. Nabors and Cazares urged the others to "knock the b out", according to Nabors's testimony. Araujo was killed at a house party 14 years ago . Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act. 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. Merl refused to answer the prosecutor's questions about how Araujo died. [52] Serra also argued that Cazares took no active role in killing her. [69] The fund was closed sometime before September 2020. [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. 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. It was warm out, and the air smelled like basil from a nearby farm. She says she receives emails from all over the world. Her face lit up, said Lopez, who came out to Gwen in high school. The jury deadlocked 9-3 in favor of also convicting Jason Cazares. This is the narrative that has persisted since shortly after Gwen's murder, but are there reasons to believe that this version of events isn't quite true? Loves to Read. [12] Later, she engaged in oral sex with Magidson and anal sex with Merl. [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. [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". 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". Her family reported her missing, but police had no information about her disappearance until Nabors told a close friend about what happened. But, at the time, she didn't comprehend the change Araujo was going through. Gwen Amber Rose Araujo was a teenager who lived in Newark, California. Dufty was elected as a supervisor in San Francisco a few months after Gwens murder and witnessed the community organizing that followed. 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. To avoid a third trial, Cazares' lawyer reached an agreement with prosecutors for a manslaughter conviction. The defense maintains Araujo tricked the defendants into sexual relations. 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. "I don't want him to be identified in the rec room at Santa Rita (jail).". Several members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church picketed Araujo's funeral with hateful placards. Here's what happened to Gwen Araujo, a transgender teen from the San Francisco Bay Area. He left, along with his brother Paul and his girlfriend, while Araujo was bloodied in the living room. This is a carousel. 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. As she struggles to heal and support herself, Guerrero has also found a deep appreciation for the impact of Gwens life. he testified. Three men are suspected of killing the 17-year-old who frequently dressed like a young woman. She frequently encounters psychological triggers that derail her days. According to court testimony, Araujo, whom the men knew a Lida, engaged in sexual activity with Michael Magidson and Jos Merl. Jaron Nabors. He pleaded to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. During a police interrogation, Nabors went into detail about what happened and who was involved. The four men were outside talking and smoking when Nabors asked, "Could this be a dude?" Some of the trans people say they were thinking of committing suicide before seeing Gwens story. Nabors testified that Magidson then strangled Araujo with a rope. Any woman that knows you after this, it's not going to matter. Trans people are being killed in record numbers. Sylvia Guerrero had never heard the word transgender until four men murdered her daughter. Gwen, often called a woman, was really just a 90-pound girl withno chance against the four drunken youngmen, including two who had been sexually intimate with her, Guerrero said. When asked how she forced them, Nabors answered, "Through deception. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis and need to connect with a qualified LGBTQ+ crisis responder. "My first impression of her was that she wasn't shy at all," Nabors said. Jason Cazares struck a deal with prosecutors to avoid a third trial and accepted a six-year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter. [8] She began to grow her hair long and planned to undergo hormone treatment and surgery. The civil rights leader made several notable appearances in the Bay Area, where he paved the way for future leaders like SFs first Black mayor, London Breed. Her older sister, Pearl Sunseri, said Araujo let her hair grow out and started to wear makeup. [68] By 2005, Guerrero had spoken to more than 20 schools. | Olivia Cruz Mayeda/The Standard, By clicking Subscribe you confirm you have read and agree to our. "[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. However, the autopsy showed that she died from strangulation associated with blunt force trauma to the head. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Police and the family referred to Araujo by her birth name, Eddie, a practice now discouraged, called deadnaming. [22][25][27] Emmanuel Merl later testified he walked to a convenience store to buy gum, then went to a friend's house to spend the night. 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. ". Today shes an admired activist for transgender causes, even though the horror of Gwens fate has upended her life. She made a promise beside her daughters casket that she would be her voice until people stop dying for who they are. Magidson also testified and under cross-examination said he received oral sex from Araujo the night she was killed. 2 Stanford 55-46, Ask Amy: I'm young and hot, and I just got two of my older clients pregnant, Harriette Cole: My husband can't remember what he did on New Year's Eve, and I can't forget, The Bay Area's 10 best new bakeries, from Los Gatos to Danville to Emeryville, Dear Abby: Because of a patio heater, we've been dragged into their messy divorce, Dear Abby: I kept this secret for 30 years, and now I'm devastated by the outcome, Ask Amy: When I saw what was in the gift bag, I sat down and cried, Minnesota boy has slept outside 1,000 nights in a row, despite bugs, a bear and 38-below, Dear Abby: It makes me queasy when my boyfriend sends roses to my office for no reason, Dear Abby: I'm scared she'll find out about my crush and it will ruin everything, Harriette Cole: I'm hurt by my best friend's surprising behavior, AR-15 style rifle marketed for children showcased at Las Vegas gun convention: Despicable, Freshwater fish are significantly more contaminated with toxic forever chemicals than saltwater fish and shellfish, analysis shows, Polar bear killed a woman and a boy after chasing residents in Alaska town, Colorados major ski resorts could get a foot or more of snow this week, WATCH: White shark surprises boy in stunning fishing encounter off Fort Lauderdale, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. She fought like a guy. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Because a city this offbeat deserves a newsletter with some Nabors takes police to the site where they buried Araujo's body. When youre in a big family, youre either going to want a bunch of kids or youre not going to want any, she said. Questions, comments or concerns about this article may be sent to [emailprotected]. [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". 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. 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. TIMELINE: How the murder of transgender teenager Gwen Araujo unfolded. Jury selection for the trial of Magidson, Jos Merl, and Cazares began on March 15, 2004. 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. Jaron Nabors pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter and agrees to testify against his three friends in exchange for an 11 year prison term. He also said that he and Jose Merel had been alone in a bedroom with Araujo, where they engaged in some flirtatious petting. When they killed her, Guerrero said, they killed a part of me.. In life, Gwen dreamed of being a part of San Franciscos transgender community and its history. Cherished brother to Pearl and Jesus Serrano of CA, Rachel Araujo of Bakersfield, Brandon Guerrero-Bacot of Newark and Michael West of Newark. Bevan Dufty is the lead organizer for Tuesdays event and has known Guerrero for years. Eddie then began transitioning as a woman and called herself Gwen, after her favorite singer Gwen Stefani. "My mom is stuck in her own grief," said Sunseri, who fought back tears about the impact Araujo's murder had on her mother. Guerrero has been unable to return to work and now shuffles her belongings from relatives' houses using a borrowed car from her friend. The men became suspicious that Araujo was not biologically female because she did not let them touch her genitalia. Fourteen years later, the twomen convicted of second-degree murder faced a parole board for the first time this week in a world more aware of what it means to be a transgender person and the dangers the trans community faces. Nabors testified that he stated he "couldn't believe that someone would ever do that, would be that deceitful" and that Jos Merl added "he was so mad he could still kick her a couple more times". "[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. Charges against Paul Merel were dropped the following day. [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. [50], The second trial began on May 31, 2005. She was calm about it.. The letter was intercepted by sheriff's officials[15] and led to the arrest of Cazares on November 19. I still call her mom when I talk to her.. [23] It is not clear at what point during this sequence of events she died. At age 14, Eddie tells his mom that he feels like a girl trapped in a boy's body. [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. By this time, Araujo's mother was able to legally change her daughter's name to Gwen Amber Rose Araujo. "[22], The party-goers did not report the crime and the assailants said nothing to anyone about the murder. But I trust juries to understand that people don't get to make life or death decisions simply based on someone's lifestyle. She says she is excited to return to actively working on the cause. In 2010, then-Gov. Memorial for Gwen Araujo Gwen Araujo was mourned in a public funeral at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Newark on October 25, 2002. Gwens murder and Guerreros advocacy have led to legislative change. Jaron Nabors was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The second trial began on May 31, 2005. Her depression, anxiety and PTSD are so debilitating, Guerrero hasnt been able to find a full-time job. 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. 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. [4][5] In some contemporary news reports and during the first trial of the perpetrators, Gwen Araujo was misgendered and referred to by her deadname. 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. [17][21] Brown was surprised and blurted out, "It's a f man! Bamby Salcedo, who went on to establish The TransLatin@ Coalition in Los Angeles, said she was motivated to accept her sexual identity and fight for transgender rights after learning of Araujo's death. 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