The body of a 21 year old Utah trans man discovered Tuesday morning in “remote desert area in Utah County,” according to authorities. Alex Franco appears to have died from a single gunshot, but police are waiting on coroner’s full report.
According to Taylorsville Police, Alex’s body was found in a western part of Lehi, a suburb of Salt Lake City.
Additionally, witnesses report that Alex had been abducted on Sunday, March 17 from near his home. Officials say a shot was fired almost immediately after he got into the car, according to ABC4. Police said video footage from the scene “clearly identified the sound reported by witnesses as a gunshot.” The alleged abduction is currently part of the investigation.
Later, Taylorsville Police said two teenagers — a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old — were arrested and booked on into the Salt Lake Valley Detention Center. Police arrested and charged the two teenagers multiple felony charges in connection to the homicide. Police continue to search for a third occupant of the vehicle. The truck was also recovered in Salt Lake City.
Alex’s family appears to have affirmed his transition.
“You know, he has a whole family that loves him,” his aunt Sherry Bennett said. “I feel so helpless.”
Bennett said she got a message from Alex’s girlfriend that he was missing. Bennett described Alex as being a good kid and said she didn’t think he was involved in anything that could lead to this situation.
“He’s had his tough spots and stuff, but he’s a good kid,” Bennett told ABC4.com. “He walks in the room and everyone brightens up immediately, so it’s really hard to even think that somebody could be so mad to do this to him.”
Police are urging anyone with information about the incident to call the non-emergency dispatch number for Taylorsville PD at 801-840-4000.
Honoring Alex
Alex “Boo” Taylor Franco was born in December 2002. He graduated from Valley High School. He was close to his grandfather and his sister.
in 2021, Alex earned a scholarship from his high school toward his college education. When he posted about it, he shares his journey turning around his academics to earn straight A’s in his senior year. His enthusiasm is palpable. Alex planned to attend Dixie Statee University. In other posts, Alex shared his experiences as an apprentice in the building trades.
Alex also wrote and recorded his own music.
In high school, Alex worked at a local Subway. His former manager said “He was a hard worker, always showed up and was such a great team member to the crew we had. He had a little bit of a temper, but I always had his back 😌 I will never forget his infectious smile and silly humor he had.”
The family has created an online profile to accept donations for Alex’s final expenses.
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The Context
Alex is the sixth trans person whose violent death has been reported in 2024 to date. He is the third trans man. Alex is the first white trans person on the 2024 list. The other five victims were BIPOC.
Around this time in 2023, we had reported 7 deaths. That’s a little unnerving.
Alex is also part of a growing trend I’ve noticed of young trans folx being murdered by other young people. Teenagers killed him. Think about these other cases:
- Nex Benedict, 16, Owasso, Oklahoma, assaulted in a school bathroom by unidentified other students, presumably teenagers. Nexidentified to family as nonbinary and to friends as trans masculine. Nex was of white and Indigenous descent through the Choctaw Nation.
- Amiri Jean Reid and Kejuan Richardson, both 21, Toledo, Ohio. November14, 2023. Amiri was a Black trans woman and Kejuan a Black gender nonconforming gay man. They were presumed to have been killed by a 19 year man. He was found in Cincinnati on November 23 dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Chyna Long, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 8, 2023. Age 20. Murdered by a 29 year old man. Chyna was a Black trans woman.
- Jacob Williamson, Pageland, South Carolina, July 4, 2023, Age 18. Brutally murdered by two people ages 20 and 21 with his body found butchered and part of his captivity livestreamed. Jacob was a white trans man.
- Tasiyah ‘Siyah’ Woodland – Mechanicsville, Maryland, March 24, 2023. Age 18. She was murdered by a 29 year old male. Siyah was a Black trans young woman.
- Unique Banks – Chicago, Illinois, January 23, 2023. Age 21. She was murdered in a mass shooting by a suspect, 19, identified by police but not arrested. Unique was a Latina trans woman.
- From England, remember Brianna Ghey who was 16 at the time she was murdered by two 15 year olds. Brianna was a white trans girl. She was killed in February 2023.
- Also from England, an unidentified 18 year old trans teen was assaulted and stabbed, surviving her injuries. Police have identified the suspects as a 19, 16, and two 17 year old teens. I do not know the identity of this young woman. This young woman was stabbed at least 14 times. This was February 2024.
That’s 10 young trans folx murdered in the past 15 months. And I’m sure that actual number is much higher especially if we broaden the geographic scope. Yes, there’s probably a difference between a 15 year old and a 29 year old murdering another person. But this is a trend that flies in the face of the belief that younger generations are inherently more accepting. That may be the general case, but other young people are also absorbing the anti-trans rhetoric so pervasive in our society. They are immersed in messaging that trans people are lesser and not worthy of the most basic regard for their humanity. How does that not impact these youth – especially those at a higher risk to commit acts of violence already?
So, much of the media attention on the death of Nex Benedict is not translating into more attention on the murders of trans people in general (3 other deaths reported since Nex died) OR of the inherent brutality of kids killing other kids (autopsy released for Jacob Williamson.) I keep saying this, but no one seems tolisten.
Back to Alex
Rest in power, Alex. Your tragic death will not overshadow the life you led. So much vitality and promise sacrificed for what reason? Thank you for bringing art, life lessons, and the power of your personality into our lives. I am deeply sorry we did not protect you from this violence.
May your memory be a revolution.
This is our list
This is our list of transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming neighbors who have been victims of the campaign of terror in 2024. Please do not copy, modify, or share this list without attribution.
- Kitty Monroe – January 1, 2024. Phoenix, Arizona. Age 43.
- Nex Benedict – February 8, 2024. Owasso, Oklahoma. Age 16.
- Righteous Torrence ‘TK’ Chevy Hill – February 29, Atlanta. Georgia. Age 35.
- Reyna Hernandez – Between Feb 28 and March 28, location TBD. Age 54.
- Diamond Cherish Brigman – March 16, 2024, Houston, Texas. Age 36.
- Alex Franco – March 19, 2024. Salt Lake City, Utah. Age 21.
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