A warm case, a cold case, and the end of a long battle against cancer are the focus of this New Year’s Day post that wishes for better days ahead.
An arrest has been made in the October 2nd East Hollywood shooting death of Aniya Knee Parker. Los Angeles police are seeking two more suspects.
Parker was confronted by three Latino men as she walked down a sidewalk. Apparently the men determined she was trans and punched her. As she turned to flee, one of the men pulled out a pistol and shot her once in the head. Parker managed to make it across the street before collapsing. She died in surgery. Police referred to the incident as “an attempted robbery gone wrong.”
The suspect in custody is said to be a minor, so his name has not been released, but reports are that he will be charged as an adult.
Orange County prosecutors have announced that Douglas Gutridge, 63, of Lodi, CA, has been arrested and charged in the 1989 stabbing death of trans woman Carla Salazar, 35 in in Santa Ana home.
Gutridge was questioned at the time of the murder, but investigators lacked enough evidence at the time. He was believed to be the last person to see Salazar alive. Now he is believed to be the first person who saw her dead.
The recent establishment of a cold case task force led to re-examination of the evidence in the case and DNA found at the scene apparently was determined to belong to Gutridge.
She deserved justice. She didn’t deserve to die. She was the total essence of love and compassion and friendship. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body.
–Christine McFadden, Salazar’s sister
She was like a mother to everyone.
–Robert Dougherty, the victim’s ex-husband
No motive for the killing has been divulged.
Gutridge is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. He faces a sentence of 25 years to life if convicted.
It is with sorrow that I report the death of The Reverend Carol Stone, the first transgender priest serving the Church of England. Rev. Sone died Saturday following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Rev. Stone was the vicar of St. Philip’s Church in Upper Stratton and St. Peter’s Church in Penhill, Wiltshire, when she transitioned in 2000. At that time the Church determined that there was no ethical or ecclesiastical reason why she could not continue her duties.
This sermon hasn’t been just three months in the making if the truth be told, I’ve been waiting to write it for the best part of 46 years – never dreaming one day I might.
After almost 23 years of preaching I felt like a young curate again preparing for one’s first sermon.
–Rev. Stone, on her return to the pulpit
Rev. Stone was ordained in 1978 and first served at Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire.
She was chaplain and head of religious studies at Dauntsey’s School, West Lavington, before taking up the post at Upper Stratton in 1996.
A regular contributor to radio, she received a National Broadcasting Award from the Sandford St Martin Trust in 1979.
She was a really true priest who overcame a huge amount in her life.
–Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon
[S]he will be missed by all who knew her.
–Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol
@bishopmikehill: Friend and priest, Carol Stone died yesterday in Prospect House Hospice. Amazing woman who will be missed by all who knew her. RIP Carol.
@RevRachelMann: Hearing news that Rev Carol Stone has died. A quiet inspiration, a pioneer of #trans acceptance, & a reminder the Church can change. #RIP
1 comment
Author
…even more progress in the attainment of recognition that trans people deserve equal treatment as human beings.