Davonta Curtis, 31, Murdered by on-again/off-again BF in Chicago Apartment

Blaque/OUT Magazine first began following the story of Davonta Curtis, 31, on April 9th. Due to widespread misgendering by both police and media outlets, her identity confirmation was delayed until this afternoon, when local Chicago news outlet WGN verified that Davonta was a Black woman of transgender experience.

On April 8th, Davonta’s sister discovered her badly beaten body inside her West Side Chicago apartment after being unable to reach her since Easter Sunday. That day, Davonta had visited her sister with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Deandre Bell, 24, when they brought groceries and gifts for the holiday.

According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, Davonta died from blunt force trauma. Her injuries were so severe that responding officers initially believed she had been shot. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the couple returning to her apartment on Easter; later, Davonta re-entered alone, and around 1 a.m., Bell was seen leaving by himself.

Authorities later apprehended Bell while he was driving Davonta’s car.