Dana Martin, 31, was adjusting to the new year in little Hope Hull, Alabama just outside Montgomery. She was very active in the local transgender community.

Her body was found on Sunday, January 6, 2019 in a vehicle in Montgomery. Martin’ s slaying is the first transgender murder of 2019.

“Our community is devastated because the murders going on — especially of trans people of color — are just happening more and more often and very little is being done about it,” Meta Ellis, the director of Montgomery Pride United, told the New York Times. “And here in Alabama we don’t have laws that support hate crimes against people of other genders.”

No suspects have been arrested and police don’t have a motive at this time. Martin’s body was found after officers responded to a crash call.

“At this point, the circumstances of Dana Martin’s homicide are unknown,” Captain Duckett told reporters at a news conference. “The death is confirmed as a criminal homicide.”

In 2018, there were at least 26 transgender murders reported in the United States, according to the Human Rights Campaign. 

If you have any informaton about this slaying, please contact the Montgomery Police Department at 334-241-2651.