Individuals Memorialized in Joseph Liatela’s

Marisol Payero was a student in her final semester studying history education at Kennesaw State University. She was the president of the Kennesaw Pride Alliance and led the opening of the KPA Pride Center after the university closed the LGBTQ+ resource center. Payero was of Dominican and Argentinian descent and a practicing Celtic Druid.

Girlalala was a hairstylist, content creator, and influencer with a large online following. Fans admired her for her bold personality, sense of humor, and authenticity, especially as a Black trans woman navigating the public eye. Her online presence mixed creativity, personal stories, and unapologetic self-expression.

Lilith Hailey was a transgender woman who was incarcerated at Red Onion State Prison. No additional information about her life can be confirmed at this time.

Danny “Dusse” Siplin was a son, friend, and beloved member of Rochester’s queer and Black communities. He was involved with the Avenue Blackbox Theatre, a company that focuses on the stories of LGBTQ+ people, BIPOC communities, and other marginalized populations.

Jade Roberts was born in Center, Texas, and later moved to San Augustine, Texas, where they graduated from high school. Jade studied at Blinn University and worked at a skilled nursing facility. On social media, Jade's friends commented enthusiastically on their gift for styling hair and fashion sense.

According to Ashtyn Tice’s Facebook page, she enjoyed “occasional drawing and studying plants.” A friend described her as “humble, compassionate, and kind.”

Friends and family remember Thea Lourdes Masica as a “beautiful, creative, and compassionate soul” whose “smile could light up a room” and whose “giggle was contagious.” She graduated from Wayzata High School in 2019. She cared deeply about the well-being of others and worked to create safe, supportive, and loving spaces.

Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-McCray was a drag performer known as Mabel by her loved ones. She worked at an LGBTQ bar in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was involved with the Nationz Pageantry system. She also ran a catering company and started her own pageant company.

Davonta Curtis was a Black transgender woman. No additional information on Davonta’s life can be confirmed at this time.

Danielle Spillman was a guitarist and transgender community elder known for her big heart. Spillman had roots in the California commune scene of the late 1960s. She came of age musically as a teenager living in Norway, where her father was stationed in the Air Force. She was a fixture at the Real Guitars shop in San Francisco, where she played guitars and discussed music history with staff and customers several days a week. Though she was not an employee, she organized a holiday party for the staff.

Paul Dean Harris III, affectionately known as Paris, was described by those who loved them as having the “unique gift for both testing your patience and making you smile in the same moment. … Paul was truly the life of the party, dancing to the beat of his own drum, always unapologetically Paris.”

Paris Harris was born in Wichita Falls, Texas, where they graduated from high school in 2023. According to their Facebook profile, their favorite color was yellow. A friend described them as “a pure heart and soul” and as having “a unique gift for both testing your patience and making you smile in the same moment. They were a ray of sunshine and a ball of joy who could fill any room with laughter within seconds. They were truly the life of the party, dancing to the beat of their own drum, always unapologetically Paris.”

Friends described Lanessa Rodriguez as confident, motivated, and someone who made a lasting impact on those around her. A hardworking small business owner in Fort Pierce, Florida, she recently expanded her work by opening a second location in Vero Beach. Rodriguez had two sisters and a brother. She was close with her family and especially devoted to her grandmother.

Juniper Blessing was a student at the University of Washington, where she majored in Atmospheric and Climate Science. She previously graduated from high school at the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe. Her hobbies included meteorology, music, singing, and video games. Her family described her as “highly intelligent, extremely talented, and deeply sensitive to the needs of others.”

Murray Foust was a senior in Northern Kentucky University's College of Arts and Sciences, where they focused on ceramics, sculpture, and painting. Through their art, Foust found a way to express themself and overcome personal challenges. Before their death, Foust was set to show their art at the Cincinnati Art Museum on May 29 for “Art After Dark: Queer Art Fest.” A selection of their work was shown to celebrate their art and life.

Marlow Trottie graduated from high school at Penn Foster College in 2008 and later attended Louisiana State University Alexandria. On Facebook, friends, family, and neighbors described Trottie as someone who always had a smile on her face and could make anyone laugh. One high school classmate described Trottie as “literally the sweetest person I’ve ever met!”

Kalena “Peaches” Croskey was a fixture of Birmingham, Alabama’s transgender community. TAKE Resource Center, a local organization that provides social services to transgender people of color, described her as “family.” The organization remembered her this way: “She brought light, laughter, and joy into every space she entered. Despite the many challenges she faced throughout her life, she never allowed those struggles to define her. Whether she was singing her favorite Beyoncé songs, voguing to the beat, creating glamorous makeup looks, or simply making others smile, Peaches found ways to experience joy and share it with those around her.”

Kayleigh Cluff was an avid reader and an enthusiastic student of history. She self-identified as a Brony, a fan of the animated television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. As a young adult, she became involved in horseback riding and developed a passion for automobiles. She worked at her stepmother and father’s restaurant.

Patti Wilson was born and raised in Dixon, Illinois, and graduated from Dixon High School. She was a musician who posted music online and performed under the name Patti Dracula. She also drew comics, painted, and wrote essays.

Asia Williams was born and raised in Baltimore. Asia was close with many of her family members, posting often on social media about their gatherings and accomplishments. She graduated from Northern High School in 2005. Her aunt shared that “Asia was a bright light in our lives, full of kindness and love,” who worked multiple jobs to support her family.

Ansel Blaszkow was a transgender man living outside Syracuse, New York. No additional information about his life can be confirmed at this time.

Jayla McGee was born and raised in Belle Glade, Florida, in a large family of siblings, cousins, aunts, and uncles who lovingly accepted her gender identity. A prolific social media user, McGee filled her feed with funny videos, memes, proud photos of her loved ones, and lots of back-and-forth with friends.

In her playful and self-effacing Facebook profile, Rayla Elle Ojeda-Wells referred to herself as a “Ditzy trans girl that likes deer, rats, music, games, and politics.” Ojeda-Wells was a partner and parent.

Juju Nadeau was an avid urban explorer and devoted partner who had an extraordinary ability to bring individuals together. Nadeau’s partner, Kasper DeWitt, described her as loving and angelic. They connected through online video game platforms for the furry subculture. Her loved ones plan to honor her energy by sewing some of Nadeau’s fursuit into their own; the remainder of the hyena fursuit will then be burned at a party celebrating her life.