Athens-Clarke County police are investigating the death of 40-year-old Kimberely Patricia Cope, a black transgender woman who was found dead Sunday morning (December 27) in the parking lot of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers on Baxter Street in Athens, Georgia.
Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson said that Kimberely Patricia Cope’s body was found at about 6 a.m. by a jogger walking her dog in the parking lot. Wilson indicated that there were no initial signs of foul play, but explained that details of her death "depends on what the autopsy tells", according to Gay City News.
According to the police report obtained by the Georgia Voice, Cope was misgendered and identified as a male upon local police's discovery. Coroner Wilson said Cope was wearing "lady's sleepwear" at the time of her death.
The responding officer met with friends of Cope who were at her apartment, which was in walking distance from the scene, and they explained that they last saw Cope at around 1 and 3 a.m.
"They stated a white SUV pulled up and was speaking with Kimberly unknown if she got into the vehicle or not and when they looked outside again Kimberly no longer was in sight,” the officer wrote in the police report according to Classic City News.
Cope’s body was transported on Monday Jan. 4 to undergo an autopsy at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s State Crime Lab, Wilson said. Anyone with information regarding Cope’s death is asked to contact Sgt. Gregory Dickson at 762-400-7070 or Gregory.dickson@accgov.com.
Gayes, you may send flowers or help plant a tree in memory of Kimberely P. Cope via her online obituary here.