Woman’s murder gains national interest
CINCINNATI — On March 3, Diamond “Kyree” Sanders was found shot in Clifton; She was taken to the hospital, but later died from her injuries. Since her death, a blog post from the Human Rights Campaign highlighting the 23-year-old woman has gained traction online and on social media.
Sanders was transgender, and details of her life shared her love for travel, fashion and fond memories of weekends spent baking cookies and making pigs in a blanket with family members who loved her.
Statistics and data that show violence against people who are transgender and, specifically, trans women of color, is high year after year in the U. S. The Human Rights Campaign noted that 2020 was the deadliest year for people who are transgender, and transgender people of color were far more likely to be victims of violence.
Cincinnati police said there are investigation details that they cannot yet share with the public that point to Sanders’
death being a robbery that ended tragically, rather than a hate crime.
“I don’t feel HRC has enough information to really make a determination in this case, but to altogether dismiss the possibility of her being transgender as a motivating factor is pretty negligent on the part of the police,” said Faith Gingrich Goetz, political co-chair of the HRC Greater Cincinnati.
She said, because hate crimes happen much more frequently than are reported, it can be difficult to truly determine how many crimes involving people who are transgender could be hate-driven.
TheHRCnotestranswomen of color are seven times more likely to be murdered than the national average, and Gingrich Goetz hopes more awareness around the stigmas that can cause tragedy can help bring more protection to the entire community.
“Ohio doesn’t currently have a law that addresses hate or biased crimes based on gender identity,” she said.
Since Sanders’ death in early March, Cincinnati Police have not yet announced any arrests or released any suspect information connected to her murder. Anyone who may have information about the shooting should call Cincinnati homicide investigators at 513-352-3542.