Transgender activist from Wisconsin killed while on Mexico vacation
“I did witness the murder and chased the accused…. The rest of our group is coping. I will say the Puerto Vallarta Police have been absolutely amazing working on this horrifying murder.”
Travel agent, Terry Halverson, in an e-mail to The Capital Times regarding the stabbing death of Felicia Melton-Smyth, a transgendered activist and fundraiser of Madison, Wisconsin. The Associated Press reports that the man who confessed to the killing, Francisco Javier Hollos, said he did so because she would not pay for sex. (The Capital Times)
“If she were here [right] now, if she were looking over us she’d be like, ‘It’s Memorial Day, and there are military veterans that have lost their lives. I’m not a hero.’ But in my eyes she was…. She was just one of those people who would give and give and give and didn’t want anything in return…. Just as long as she could make someone smile, that was Felicia’s life. She wanted to make people happy.”
Dan Leamy, a friend of the victim, reflecting on the well-liked activist’s dedication to AIDS fundraising. It is reported that Melton-Smyth’s will specified funeral arrangements where “she wanted a party, a celebration of her life complete with music and toys for the holiday drive.” A memorial has been set up at GayMadison.org (Channel 3000)
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