A musical Mosaic
And a child shall lead them
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Family Portrait: Garfield DeMarco’s love of the land
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A lawyer of distinction
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Readers share their pet photos PAGE 29
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Nov. 13-19, 2015
Since 1976
PGN Philadelphia Gay News HONESTY • INTEGRITY • PROFESSIONALISM
Vol. 39 No. 46
Did gender confusion delay Morris probe?
No further arrests in murder of trans woman
By Timothy Cwiek timothy@epgn.com
By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com Police have not taken any new suspects into custody in the October murder of a trans woman in Logan, police spokesperson Officer Christine O’Brien told PGN this week. Kiesha Jenkins, 22, got out of a car at 13th and Wingohocking streets around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 6 when five or six males approached and assaulted her. Then she was shot twice in the back and killed. Police said they believe the motive was robbery and that Jenkins was not targeted for being transgender. “Every one of our homicide cases are a priority,” O’Brien said. “They never are not an important case for the department.” Homicide detectives continue to pursue suspects in the killing, she said, adding she could not release more information about an active investigation. One man, Pedro Redding, 24, of the 4500 block of North 13th Street, was arrested in connection with the crime on charges of murder, conspiracy and weapons offenses. Police do not believe Redding was the shooter. Redding will have a preliminary hearing to determine if his case will move to trial at 9 a.m. Nov. 25 in Room 306 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St. He is being held at the Philadelphia Detention Center after having been denied bail. n
Pet Issue
EASY AS PIE: Mayor Michael Nutter (left) holds the official City of Philadelphia proclamation declaring Nov. 5, 2015, as “Pie Day” recognizing MANNA’s pie sale kick-off tasting in the Liberty Place rotunda. Also pictured are MANNA Pie Guy and community engagement coordinator Michael Rowlands (second from left), director of external affairs Rob Saxon and CEO Sue Daugherty. Pies can be ordered through Nov. 20 online at mannapies.org. To volunteer to help distribute pies Nov. 24-25, contact Rowlands at MRowlands@mannapa.org or call 215-496-2662 ext. 110. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Mayor-elect Kenney introduces transition team By Paige Cooperstein paige@epgn.com About a dozen people who are out in the LGBT community or strong allies have been appointed to the transition team for Philadelphia Mayor-elect Jim Kenney. Kenney introduced 17 of the 171 people on the team at a news conference Nov. 6 in the University City Science Center. The transition team expects to spend the ALBA MARTINEZ (LEFT), THE OUT next two months creating a public report, FORMER COMMISSIONER OF THE which will help guide the policy and per- PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN sonnel of Kenney’s new administration. SERVICES, CO-CHAIRS THE TRANSITION “It’s always important that not only are we TEAM FOR MAYOR-ELECT JIM KENNEY. inclusive of every community and every SHE SPOKE AT A PUBLIC INTRODUCneighborhood in the city, but that we listen TION OF THE TRANSITION TEAM NOV. 6 AT UNIVERSITY CITY SCIENCE CENTER. PAGE 20 to what people have to
Day in the Life of a dog groomer Kevin Ugarte’s canine fashion New Hope’s pet photographer
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A key 911 transmission in the Nizah Morris case could clarify whether gender confusion between responding officers delayed a criminal investigation into Morris’ fatal head wound. The transmission is noted in dispatch records released by the city Law Department in 2008, but investigators refuse to disclose its contents. Morris was a trans woman found at 16th and Walnut streets, unconscious and bleeding from her forehead, shortly after a courtesy ride from Officer Elizabeth Skala. Morris died two days later, on Dec. 24, 2002, from complications due to a fractured skull. Her homicide remains unsolved. The 911 transmission at issue took place at 4:02 a.m. Dec. 22, about 45 minutes after Skala embarked on the courtesy ride. Dispatch records indicate Skala said something over police radio at 4:02 that ended a connection at the 911 call center between Skala’s ride recipient and a “hospital case” at 16th and Walnut. Once that connection ended, Morris no longer was considered a “hospital case” transported by police. Responding officers no longer had an obligation to write a report about Morris’ courtesy ride and subsequent head injury. Only if Morris were treated as a “hospital case” transported by police — not medics — would such documentation be expected. Instead, Morris was treated as a slip-and-fall victim transported to a hospital by medics. As a result, vital evidence, including Morris’ clothing, was lost or discarded. A cursory probe by a detective easily could have debunked the slip-and-fall theory, as Morris was found on her back with a wound on her forehead. But no detective was summoned, and the incident wasn’t investigated as a potential crime until several days later. Police reports indicate Officer Thomas Berry miscommunicated with Skala when alluding to PAGE 21 Morris as “transsexual” while
Old traditions, new breeds Rescues with Animal Alliance Joe Buchanan: Dog show handler
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