| Preferred Name | Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar | City | Queens | ||
| Other Names Used | State | NY | |||
| Age | 29 | Gender Identity | Transwoman | ||
| Race | Latino | Date of Death | 03/30/2010 |
Click to See Legal Name
Edelbuerto Gonzalez-Andujar
Crime Category: Sex Work/Robbery | Weapon Used: Strangulation
On March 30th, 2010, in Queens, NY, Amanda was found dead in her apartment. She was strangled to death by a man who was later convicted of her murder.
According to news reports: “Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar was found in her apartment strangled to death. Detectives suspected she was killed by a ‘date,’ however later reports clarified she was killed by a man she was engaging in sex work with. She was found nude on her bed.
“A neighbor reported hearing a loud fight at the time, but when officers arrived, there was no answer at the door.
A police official said detectives now believe the killer had fled by the time cops showed up. There was no evidence that would have allowed police to go into the apartment, the official said.
The victim was discovered Tuesday, her naked body sprawled across the bed, when worried friends persuaded the landlord to open the door to her Glendale apartment.
The apartment looked like it had been ransacked, but sources said it likely was the result of a struggle between the victim and her attacker.”
Her laptop had been stolen, indicating the suspect wished to conceal evidence of their relationship through emails. It was also reported several personal items were destroyed, indicating personal rage. Although police stated the destruction was the result of a fight between the victim and attacker.
***
The New York Times reports she advertised her sex work services as a ‘she-male,’ online. Investigators believe she and her attacker met in a chat room.
“On the morning of March 27, a man came to her Queens apartment, for reasons that the authorities said remained unclear. He left 17 hours later, alone. Her body, naked except for a bra, was discovered face down on her bed. She had been strangled by hand and doused in bleach.”
“Videotape from a surveillance camera showed the attacker entering just before 9 a.m. on March 27, the Queens district attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday. Minutes later, screams and loud noises were heard from inside. When the attacker left 17 hours later, he was seen carrying two bags “that appeared to be filled with items,” the statement said.”
Location: Victim’s apartment, 62nd Street in Glendale, Queens, NY, at about 4:00 p.m.
Personal Information:
Amanda worked at a hospital in an office position. NYT: “At the building where Ms. Gonzalez-Andujar lived, neighbors on Wednesday spoke of her as a private person who lived on the first floor. She kept flowers in boxes below three windows that looked out onto the building’s courtyard; sometimes she played Spanish music.”
The Village Voice: “She was very charismatic, very well-loved, and was known by many. We knew her by the name Amanda. We respected her as Amanda and loved her as Amanda, those of us that cared for her. Amanda was a daughter, a sister, a cousin, a niece, a friend, a community member.”
Murder Suspect:
Rasheen Everett
29 | 11/1980 | Black
Motive: Unknown
Charged: Murder: Intention/Burglary 2nd
Hate Crime: Unknown
Last Update: 01/27/2021
Current Status: Convicted.
Sentence: 29 years
Case ID: 01592-2010 | IND-01592-10/001
Charged: 04/14/2010
Queens Supreme Court, NY
Appeal Filed: 01/27/2021
Click to see news report of convicted killer.
No information was provided during the trial to indicate a motive. It was implied he may have reacted violently to discovering the victim was anatomically male. But this was not confirmed. He had a history of domestic violence incidents, including choking a former girlfriend.
His lawyer attempted to dismiss the severity of the charges by arguing the victim was a ‘lower class’ person, not deserving of justice.
“In his closing arguments, [John] Scarpa also argued that it wasn’t as though Everett had killed someone “in the higher end of the community,” telling Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard Buchter, “A sentence of 25 years to life is an incredibly long period of time, judge. Shouldn’t that be reserved for people who are guilty of killing certain classes of individuals?”
His lawyer also implied the victim exposed his client to HIV, despite no evidence the victim had been HIV+.
The judge, however, dismissed the argument stating that all life is sacred. Everett was convicted and sentenced to 29 years in prison.
News Timeline: 3/31/2010 | 4/1/2010 | 4/14/2010 | 11/8/2013 | 11/9/2013 | 01/27/2021
AP. (2013, December 7). Man gets life in transgender murder – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. Sun-Journal, A3.
Baker, A. (2010, April 10). Arrest but No Motive in Strangling of Queens Woman – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/15/nyregion/15transgender.html?auth=login-google1tap&login=google1tap
Carrega-Woodby, C. (2013, November 8). Killer convicted of murdering transgender prostitute – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2013/11/08/killer-convicted-of-murdering-transgender-prostitute/
Feeney, M. J., & Lauinger, J. (2010, March 31). Transgender woman found naked & dead – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. NY Daily News, 6.
Kailey, M. (2010, March 31). Transgender woman Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar found dead in New York apartment – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. Washington Examiner. https://web.archive.org/web/20100404031315/http://www.examiner.com/x-12237-Transgender–Transsexual-Issues-Examiner~y2010m3d31-Transgender-woman-Amanda-GonzalezAndujar-found-dead-in-New-York-apartment
Male Date May Have Strangled Transgender Woman: Report – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. (2010, April 1). ABC 4 New York. https://web.archive.org/web/20181101202615/http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Male-Date-May-Have-Strangled-Transgender-Woman-Found-in-Queens-Apartment-Report-89675477.html
Man Arrested in Murder of Transgender Woman Found Strangled in Queens Apartment – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. (2010, April 14). ABC4NY. https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/man-arrested-in-murder-of-transgender-woman-found-strangled-on-bed/1910554/
Man convicted in murder of transgender woman – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. (2013, November 8). ABC7NY. https://abc7ny.com/archive/9319275/
Merlan, A. (2013, December 9). LGBT Group Calls for Attorney’s Apology After He Argues Transgender Murder Victim Wasn’t a “Certain Class” of Person – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. The Village Voice. https://www.villagevoice.com/lgbt-group-calls-for-attorneys-apology-after-he-argues-transgender-murder-victim-wasnt-a-certain-class-of-person/
Parascandola, R. (2010a, April 1). Choked to Death – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. NY Daily News, 47.
Parascandola, R. (2010b, April 1). Transgender woman Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar was strangled by man she was dating, cops suspect – . NY Daily News. https://web.archive.org/web/20100404073420/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/04/01/2010-04-01_choked_to_death.html
Parascandola, R. (2010c, April 15). Transgender Slay Arrest – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. NY Daily News, 16.
Smith, G. A. (2010, March 27). Remembering Our Dead – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. TDOR. https://tdor.translivesmatter.info/reports/2010/03/27/amanda-gonzalez-andujar_new-york-city-usa_1fdc02e9
Suzdaltsev, J. (2013, December 12). A New York Lawyer Thought Murdering a Trans Person Was No Big Deal – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar. Vice. https://www.vice.com/en/article/ppmbxy/a-new-york-lawyer-thought-murdering-a-trans-person-was-no-big-deal
The People, Etc., Respondent, v Rasheen Everett, Appellant. – Amanda Gonzalez-Andujar (January 7, 2021). https://www.appealslawgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/People-v.-Rasheen-Everett-Docket-2013-11112.pdf
Images are publicly available through public sources, personal posts, family members and information websites as well as stills from cited videos and news websites. Images are digitally enhanced for artistic purposes. All information is accurate to the best of the author’s knowledge at time of publishing. Updates will be made as needed.
