News & Opinion
(Source: Facebook)
Last week, Daqua Lameek Ritter was sentenced to life in prison for the August 2019 murder of 24-year old Pebbles “La Dime” Doe, a Black transwoman from Allendale, SC. Ritter had been convicted on February 24 by a unanimous jury of all charges, including a hate crime, a federal firearms violation, and obstruction. U.S. District Judge Sherri Lyndon of Columbia presided over the sentencing.
Ritter was involved in a sexual relationship with Doe, but wanted to keep it hidden from the small community of Allendale. At the time, Ritter also had a girlfriend, Dalasia Green, who eventually found out about Ritter and Doe’s secret relationship. After learning of the affair, Green insulted Ritter with several homophobic slurs.
Evidence, including deleted texts and social media messages, indicated that Doe felt used by Ritter. Likely feeling embarrassed and afraid of further ridicule for his personal connection to Doe, Ritter lured Doe to a remote area and shot her in the head three times with a .22 caliber handgun. Ritter later burned the clothes he was wearing, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement.
(Source: US Department of Justice)
Deana “Dee” Elder, a transwoman and one of the twelve jurors in the case, commented on the evidence of communication between Doe and Ritter.
“When she had the nerve to be happy about it and wanted to share it with her friends, he got nervous and scared that others would find out, and put an end to it," said Elder.
Ritter’s federal conviction for murder was the first in U.S. history based on a hate crime against a person due to their gender identity. This case marks another historical milestone, resulting in the first guilty verdict for the murder of a transgender person under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.
The legislation is named after Matthew Shephard and James Byrd Jr. who were both victims of hate crimes in 1998. Matthew Shephard, a gay man, was beaten to death in Wyoming while James Byrd Jr., a Black man, was lynched by being dragged behind a pickup truck by white supremacists in Texas. These horrible crimes led to the establishment of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The Shepard-Byrd Act expands previous federal hate crime legislation by including protections against violent acts motivated by a person’s actual or perceived gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation. With the broadening of protections, the Act institutes a fortified legal framework for prosecuting violent hate crimes and holding perpetrators accountable.
(Source: Facebook)
While a sentence has been issued, it does not reverse the tragic death of Pebbles “La Dime” Doe. Justice has been delivered in a legal sense, but the remaining emotional and psychological impact of this violence is incalculable, especially toward Doe’s family and friends.
“Every day is a struggle… [Ritter] shouldn’t get to see the light of day” says Debra Saab, the mother of Doe.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, so far in 2024, at least 27 transgender and gender expansive people have died from fatal violence, including gun and intimate partner violence. Among these victims, 74% were people of color, 48% were Black transgender women, 63% were killed with a gun, and 38% of victims were killed by a romantic/sexual partner, friend, or family member.
Incremental changes have been made, however we still live in an anti-Black, anti-trans society. The roots of this prejudice have not been addressed nationwide in a direct, honest, and thorough way. If action is not taken to educate people and instill the undeniable truth that Black trans individuals exist and deserve to thrive, we will continue to witness these crimes, not only in this country, but around the world.
Gaye Magazine extends our deepest sympathies to the loved ones of Pebbles “La Dime” Doe.