Pgh Lesbian Correspondents

A 35-year-old Black trans woman named Marlow Trottie was killed in Alexandria, Louisiana on June 8, 2026.

The Crime

Police are investigating a homicide in the 2400 block of Cummins Street in Alexandria, Louisiana. Officers responded to the scene around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, June 8, regarding a person who had been found deceased. An investigation revealed that Marlow Trottie, 35, had been killed in a homicide. This is according to TV station KALB.

There’s no information on the cause of death. But they consider it a homicide. Typically, they’d provide more details.

If anyone has any information about this incident or any other type of crime in the Alexandria area, please contact the Alexandria Police Detective Division at the phone number (318) 441-6416, or APD Dispatch (318) 441-6559. You may also email information to detectives at: APDDetectives@cityofalex.com. 

For a cash reward, call Crime Stoppers of CenLa at (318) 443-7867. The Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster App can also be downloaded to leave tips and get a claim number for a cash reward at www.p3tips.com/community/mobile. 

Honoring Marlow

Marlow was born about 1990 in Alexandria, Louisiana. She attended Tioga High School and Penn Forest High School.

There is some disagreement about Marlow’s identity. Marlow identified as female in multiple recent profiles. Many photos show Marlow with femme clothing, makeup, and hair styles. However, the family has presented Marlow as male, using he/him pronouns. Friends have been chastising people on Facebook.

It is important to honor how Mawlow presented herself when we can, not what other people say or how they knew Marlow. There’s certainly no shame in being a trans woman or gender-nonconforming. Describing a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation is another piece of information to see them as a whole person. We have no way of knowing at this point if gender conformity was tied to Marlow’s murder. But it should be considered if that’s where the evidence leads.

We also learn from some posts that Marlow may have been disabled. That’s important to document because violence against disabled people, including trans disabled people is often swept under the rug. It isn’t an insult or slur, it is simply a piece of their identity.

Friends and neighbors repeatedly say Marlow was a nice, good person – didn’t bother anyone or do anything harmful. It seems Marlow had a lot of respect and appreciation for how she moved through the world. Her murder is an outrage because of her fundamental goodness.

Marlow was an enthusiastic user of Facebook. She followed several content creators, bloggers, and artists. She also followed comedians. She referenced “Marlow’s House of Beauty” in several profiles. She enjoyed creating fun and engaging selfies with different fashion and hair styles.

Marlow’s sister describes her as having an unforgettable smile, a contagious laugh, and a heart bigger than most people.

Alexandria seems to be a violent community. A friend posted this about Marlow and others

“I can literally name three childhood friends who have been killed in the past five years over senseless stuff, and they really didn’t bother people, weren’t portraying to be something they weren’t, wasn’t gangster, and wasn’t faking anything. They were down-to-earth people who wouldn’t hurt a soul, and yet they ended up dying by some type of violence.”

A vigil was held to honor Marlow.

Context

Marlow is the 14th person on this tragic list for 2026. I have no doubt there have been other violent deaths, they are just hidden for reasons I laid out earlier.

Marlow is the ninth trans person of color, and the eighth Black transperson on this list for 2026. She is the eighth trans woman, the seventh trans woman of color and the sixth Black trans woman on our list.

I share this context because we need to understand the different ways anti-trans violence manifests. There’s an intersection between racial justice and trans identity, as well as intersections between trans identity and violence. There is also class/economic intersections, health intersections, age, education, location, housing stability, and more.

14 people are on this list. Six are Black trans women. Nine are people of color and eight of those are Black. We talk often about the disproportionate representation on these lists – well, here you have the data.

In 2023, we reported on the death of YOKO. In 2021, we documented the death of Pooh Johnson, Fifty Bandzzz. Keeva Scatter, and Geri Judd. In 2020, we reported on Draya McCarty Shaki Peters, Kee Sam, Brooklyn DeShauna Smith and Queasha Hardy. In 2018, Amia Tyrae Berryman, Vontashia Bell. In 2017, Chyna Gibson, Ciara McElveen and Jaquarrius Holland (Brown) were killed. From 2016, Demarkis Stansberry and Goddess Diamond were killed.

That’s 18 violent deaths recorded in Louisiana. I actually lived in Louisiana for three years so I’ve experienced that heady mix of excitement and danger. We are all familiar with the current political context. All of those things make for an environment not friendly or affirming. This is also a moment to say the names of those who passed over the previous decade and hope in some way their spirits offered comfort to Marlow. Their collective stories, their lives and deaths, are important to the narrative in Louisiana.

There’s also the lack of information about Marlow’s death. If the police believe she was murdered, why not say something generally like she was stabbed or shot to death? Those are not unique factors for an investigation. Are they keeping details close because they are significant in general or because they have a suspect? That lack of information and communication from the police is also a recurring theme. Houston is a solid example of failing families and the trans community. Or Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rest in power, Marlow. You deserved a life full of joy, love, and appreciation for your full identity. Your death is not the most important part of your story. I am sorry we did not create a safer world for you. I hope ‘Marlow’s House of Beauty’ fills your afterlife with joy.

May your memory be a blessing

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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.
9. Paris Harris – Dallas, Texas, April 17, 2026. Age 21.
10. Eryka Caldwell – New York, New York, May 17, 2026. Age 41.
11. Nathaniel Potts – Eldorado, Illinois, May 20, 2026. Age 16.
12. Persia Amarra Conway – Houston, Texas. Date unconfirmed. Found on May 26, 2026. Age 33.
13. Juniper Blessing – Seattle, Washington. May 8, 2026. Age 19.
14. Marlow Trottie – Alexandria, Louisiana. June 8, 2026. Age 35.

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.
2. Name Unknown – Charlotte, North Carolina. Found on May 21, 2026. Date of death unknown. Age unknown.