Transgender murder is unsolved in Houston, TX

Courtney Zubowski of KHOU News in Houston reports:

HOUSTON -- Mystery still surrounds the murder of Myra Ical, a transgender woman, who was found dead in a field in Montrose last week.
“She died struggling for her life,” said Cristan Williams, the Executive Director of the Transgender Foundation of America. “It’s personal. I feel it on a personal level.


The body of the 51-year-old was found in the 4300 block of Garrott near Richmond.


Police said her body was covered in bruises and showed signs that she tried to fight back.


Williams said she has been in constant contact with police.


“She went down fighting and she was literally beaten to death,” she said.


Police said Ical was previously known as Ruben Dario Ical.


Investigators are not calling this a hate crime, but they’re not ruling out anything at this time.


“It concerns me a lot,” said Lou Weaver, who is helping plan a vigil for Ical. “A lot of my friends live around here. I drive down this road constantly going to and from where I live.”


Weaver and Williams said it doesn’t appear as if Ical has family living in the Houston area. They’ve seen her at some of their transgender support group meetings and have taken on the task of putting up fliers throughout the neighborhood.


“We’re just interested in solving this crime,” said Williams.


Williams is hoping someone in the neighborhood saw or heard something that will lead to justice for Myra Ical."