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Transgender Woman Found Stabbed To Death In Her Apartment
A transgender woman was found stabbed to death early Saturday morning after firefighters responded to a call over a fire in her apartment.
Michelle Vash Payne was found stabbed to death on the kitchen floor of the apartment on the 14600 block of Saticoy Street in Van Nuys. Firefighters responded to a call just after 5 a.m. of a fire in the unit and broke in and put out a small fire in a bedroom. Authorities say Payne may have been partially burned, and that the murder weapon was found in the apartment. ABC 7 reports that the woman's boyfriend, who lived with her, is the prime suspect in the case.
Friends tell the station that the 33-year old Payne was open about being transgender. Neighbors say the couple had recently moved into the building and that they were constantly arguing or fighting, and that the had argued about an hour before firefighters showed up on the scene. Dani Guitierrez says his girlfriend told him, "'I guess they were having arguments in the night and then I heard silence. And the next thing you know there's a fire going on and they find the girl dead.'"
No photo or name of the boyfriend has been released, but the LAPD describe him as a black man in his mid-20s, standing about 5'8" and weighing 150 pounds.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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