Trans woman whose body was found in a burned car ‘victim of targeted attack’
The burned out car was found by police on Wednesday morning. (WINK News)
Police officers found a body believed to be that of a trans woman inside a burned car in Hendry County, Florida, early on Wednesday, September 4.
The body was burned beyond recognition, but a man has come forward to say he believes the victim is his best friend.
Kenard Wade told WINK News that he last saw his best friend on Sunday, and that he spoke to her the night he thinks she was killed. Wade said he thinks she was targeted because she was transgender.
Wade said: “That’s her car, I know that. I know her car.
“She had a really, really sweet heart and she’d never harmed anyone, never put anyone in harm’s way.
“How could someone go to that extreme to get rid of her? I just want justice.”
Wade said the friends had known each other for six years, and that in messages sent the night before the car fire his friend had said that she wanted to leave town, worried she would get in “trouble” if she stayed.
According to WINK News, investigators have not released any more information about the car or the body found inside, and they have said they are waiting for results from the medical examiner.
Many on social media, including her best friend, are reporting that the victim is Bee Love, a trans woman. (Bee Love/ Facebook)
Many are reporting that the victim is trans woman Bee Love.
Although the victim has not been officially named, Wade and others on social media have said that her name was Bee Love, a trans woman.
*TW* Yesterday we learned of Bailey Reeves (17)— a black trans teen in Baltimore who was shot to death. Today we also learn of the murder of Bee Love (21)— a black trans woman in Florida who was found w/ her hands tied, shot multiple times, and set on fire inside of a car. #RIP pic.twitter.com/06ZJXlAZHp
— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) September 6, 2019
Her Facebook account has been memorialised and a candlelight vigil is being held for Love on Monday, September 9.
This week, a teenager was reported to be the 17th trans woman to be killed in the US this year.
The 17-year-old was found by on Monday evening, September 2, with gunshot wounds to her torso in Parkwood Avenue, Baltimore.
