Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

As we knew, the early months of 2026 did witness the violent deaths of trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming folx even without the scrutiny of media coverage or public awareness.

On January 2, 2026, Jade Roberts was found at an old Wells Fargo building at Hillcroft between Richmond and Westheimer on the second day of the year, wrapped in a tarp. The city was Houston. Jade was a 25 year old Black trans person.

Houston police told ABC13 that Jade had been shot and possibly moved to this final resting space, one known for many reported petty crimes.

Five months later, there are no leads, no progress, no suspects, and no closure for Jade’s loved ones or the larger Houston trans community. You can read Jade’s obituary here.

Anyone with information in this case is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Honoring Jade

Jade has most often been identified using male pronouns and their assigned name. But also with the name Jade, by friends and family, in photos of Jade with others, and by law enforcement. Jade’s social media profile are dated and suggest they may have more openly lived or expressed a gender nonconforming identity.

I’ve noticed most of their family members used their names interchangeably and posted photos of Jade in what we consider femme hairstyles, clothing, and makeup. Comments from family members express surprise when they posted newer images, but no one said anything mean or implied rejection. The impression is that Jade’s family loved them without limit. I hope that love sustained Jade and will comfort their family.

Without more concrete information, we describe Jade as a trans person who was gender nonconforming. I am using they/them pronouns. Trans can be an umbrella term to describe many different specific identities of individuals whose and sexuality do not conform to a binary.

They were born in Center Texas, then moved to San Augustine, Texas where they graduated high school. Jade studied at Blinn University. They worked with a skilled nursing facility.

Jade’s friends commented enthusiastically on their gift for styling hair and fashion sense.

Jade was proud of their education accomplishments, working hard to move through community college. I am pretty sure they had a horse that cousins are now caring for. I’m unsure about that, but it is such a unique fact that would tie Jade to the storied narrative of Texan history (and Mexican history), it seems worth mentioning. Jade was a child of Texas in multiple ways. If I’m incorrect, please let me know.

Context

Jade is the eighth trans person whose violent death has been reported in the US during 2026. I have no doubt there have been other violent deaths, they are just hidden for reasons I laid out earlier. It is on all of us to honor those who lives were taken in shadows, in silence, and under cover of anti-trans bias.

Jade is the fifth trans person of color, and the fourth Black transperson on this list for 2026. At age 25, Jade is the youngest person on this list.

The media coverage has been almost nonexistent. There are no leads or suspects. The family seems to be quite transparent about Jade’s complete identity. For some reason, the Houston police recently sent out a plea for information. I don’t know why. But I’m not truly surprised that the shooting death of a Black transperson wrapped in a tarp and dumped in an abandoned building has slid under the radar. Shocking yes, but not surprising.

Apparently, it will take some private citizen to provide a clue. I’m almost certain someone has that clue. Perhaps they are afraid to come forward. Perhaps they don’t care. But we cannot simply accede to that apathy. We have to continue to raise a hue and cry, to prod into action the systems so willing to abandon our trans neighbors.

The comments on the most recent round of posts about Jade are horrific. It is shocking how cruel people can be knowing that the family members of Jade are reading the threads. That’s a level of rampant disregard heightened over previous years. I attribute this callous nonchalance to government’s efforts to dehumanize, isolate, and violate the trans community.

It is working.

At the same time, I see more than the typical number of people pushing back in these same threads. Some are kin to Jade, others are just decent human beings. I hope they continue to draw these lines as I am sure there are other trans folx reading the same threads.

Texas has a brutal history. I’ve documented the murder of 35 trans neighbors since 2016. This year, 2026, I have one more person on my list – Paris Harris – who was killed in Dallas. That’s 37 documented deaths. Documented.

In 2025, Rosa Martinez Machuca In 2024, we documented the deaths of Diamond Cherish Brigman, Dylan Gurley, and Vanity Williams. In 2023, Maria Jose Rivera Rivera, Unidentified Person, and LaKendra Andrews. 2022: Cypress Ramos, Paloma Velasquez, and Marisela Castro. In 2021, Aidelen Evans, Iris Santos, Tiffany Thomas, Iris Santos, Miss CoCo, Kier Laprice (Kartier) Solomon, Za’Niyah Williams, Rubi Dominguez, and Martina Caldera. In 2020, Helle Jae O’Regan, Asia Jynaé Foster, and Chae’Meshia Simms. And 2019, Tracy Single, Muhlaysia Booker, Chynal Lindsey and Itali Marlowe, In 2018, Nikki Janelle Enriquez and Karla Patricia Pavon-Flores, Then, 2017 Kenne McFadden, Gwynevere River Song, Stephanie Montez, and Brandi Seals. And in 2016, Monica Loera, Veronica Cano, Shante Thompson, Erykah Tijerina,

That’s an overwhelming list. How are we going to respond?

Rest in power, Jade. Your life was important. Like the gemstone that shares your name, you were precious and immortal. Thus, the true circumstances around your death is also important. Thank you for the love and kindness you brought to this world. You were ripped away from your family, your community, and all of us far too soon.

May your memory be a revolution.

Deaths reported in 2026

These individuals are part of the trans community including transgender, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and gender creative folx. Please do not share this content without attribution. Thank you

1. Shyyell Diamond Sanchez-Mccray – Petersburg, Virginia. March 13, 2026. Age 42.
2. Davonta Curtis – Chicago, Illinois. April 5, 2026. Age 32.
3. Dannielle Spillman – San Francisco, California. April 16, 2026. Age 74.
4. Aleanna Royal Belcher – Binghamton, New York. April 17, 2026. Age 31.
5. Lucas Redbeard Knapp – Candy Kitchen, Cibola County, New Mexico, April 18, 2026. Age 39.
6. Hailey Singleton – Dunnellton, Florida, May 5, 2026. Age 29.
7. Lanessa Rodriguez – Ft Pierce, Florida, April 28, 2026. Age 35.
8. Jade Roberts – Houston, Texas, January 2, 2026. Age 25.

Other Deaths

We are following these cases, but cannot confirm the details right now.

1. Daniella Analee Escobedo – Las Vegas, Nevada (unconfirmed), April 12, 2026. Age 34.