Transgender Woman Found Dead In Hotel, With Head In The Toilet

Police have identified the suspect for a murdered transgender woman in a Philippine hotel. Private First Class Scott Pemberton, US Marine, will reportedly be formally charged with murder according to a source from the Philippine National Police.

Pemberton is being held on a warship after 26-year-old Jeffrey Laude, also known as Jennifer, was found dead in an Olangapo hotel room (Celzone Lodge). Her naked body was found with her head in the toilet after midnight Sunday. Her lower body was covered partially with a blanket. The body also showed signs of strangulation.

image courtesy of rappler.com

A witness said that Laude entered the hotel with an “unidentified male white foreigner” at around 10:55 pm last Ocober 11. He also said that the foreigner had a marine “style of hair cut,” and is presumably between 25 and 30 years old. Another witness told police the two had been seen together at a nearby disco club.



CNN reports:

Because no charges have yet been filed, U.S. officials have not identified the Marine, who is assigned to 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

"The Marine Corps is working closely and cooperating fully with the Philippine National Police to ensure a thorough investigation is completed and due process of law is followed," Col. Brad Bartelt, spokesman with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, said in a statement.

Three other Marines from the same unit have been identified as potential witnesses, the Marine Corps Times newspaper reported, citing an internal Navy memo on the incident. They are being held.

image courtesy of cnn.com

The United States Embassy in the Philippines has this to say: “We are aware of the situation and express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. We are also aware that there are allegations that a foreigner, including possibly a US national, was involved in the incident. We are currently looking into these allegations and working closely with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to take all necessary steps to help identify the suspects.”

The news report made waves in the country as well as online. Speculations have also surfaced as to the possible reasons behind the crime. Some people say that there was theft involved, and that the victim tried to steal from the suspect. Others assumed that the victim was strangled after the suspect "discovered" that he wasn't with a "real woman." These assumptions, however, are baseless and homophobic.


YOU SHOULD ALSO READ:


Can you find lifelong friends or relationships in Grindr?  

5 reasons you shouldn’t chat with a minor 

A Society Where Innocent Citizens Are Not Afraid Of Cops