Grieving relatives of a transgender woman found dead in a truck in Hollywood have doubts about the police theory surrounding the tragedy.
Emily Garcia, 25, was found unresponsive alongside another person inside the car, which had been parked ouside a shelter for women and trans people where she had been temporarily living.
The truck’s tinted windows concealed the deaths for almost two days before a security guard found her body.
When authorities looked inside, they found a white powdery substance resembling fentanyl.
Tthere were no signs of any physical trauma and police have preliminarily attributed Garcia’s death to a suspected drug overdose, but her relatives remain unconvinced.
Family members insist Garcia’s life had just been falling into place and that she was beginning to carve out a promising future having finally earned U.S. citizenship and securing a marketing job that had been due to start the day after she died.
Garcia hoped the job would be the start of a new chapter in her life, allowing her to achieve financial independence and secure stable housing.
For years, she had navigated the instability of the shelter system, an issue she openly discussed in a podcast by the TransLatin@ Coalition, a Los Angeles-based advocacy group for transgender immigrants.
Emily Garcia, 25, a trans Latina womanm was found dead in October from a suspected drug overdose, although her family disputes this theory
Garcia’s body was found alongside another body in a truck parked outside the Hollywood shelter, pictured, where she had been living
‘She was finding her footing,’ said her sister, Maria Tuch to the Los Angeles Times. ‘She dreamed of being independent and helping our mom get her papers too.’
Tuch described her sister as a loving, spirited individual who radiated positivity.
As the family grapples with their loss, doubts linger about the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s death.
Tuch insists her sister wasn’t known to use drugs and questions the overdose theory put forward by police.
‘It’s hard to accept because I don’t think it was an overdose,’ she said, calling for a more thorough investigation.
Only adding to their suspicions is the fact that Garcia was found wearing sweatpants – something she would not usually wear and an all-round uncharacteristic clothing choice for someone who took immense pride in her appearance.
‘She would never dress like that,’ Tuch said. ‘It doesn’t add up.’
The family are now working with advocates and reaching out to authorities for security footage from the shelter in the hope it might shed light on Garcia’s final hours.
The family is grappling with their loss with doubts lingering about the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s death
The family are now working with advocates and reaching out to authorities for security footage from the shelter in the hope it might shed light on Garcia’s final hours
They also have questions about why shelter staff didn’t notice her absence.
The LAPD has stated that it appears Garcia’s death was accidental, but the case still remains open pending toxicology results.
Homicide detectives are investigating, given the presence of two bodies and the potential involvement of drugs.
Garcia’s death serves as a stark reminder of the dangers and levels of discrimination faced by trans people, particularly trans women of color.
Hate crimes against trans individuals in Los Angeles County have risen sharply, with 69 incidents reported in 2023 compared with 54 in 2022.
Garcia herself faced relentless harassment, which her sister uncovered while going through her phone after her death.
‘People would tell her, “I know that you’re still a man,” and she would reply, “No, I am a young lady,” Tuch recounted.
‘She was proud and outspoken about being a transgender woman. I don’t know if someone harmed her out of revenge or vengeance.
‘Behind all her joy and her happiness, there was sadness mainly from the discrimination that she faced from humanity or from others based on who she was.’
Garcia’s resilience and determination were celebrated during a Trans Day of Remembrance event at Los Angeles City Hall, where Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez honored her life.
She came to the U.S. as an ‘unaccompanied minor,’ and had faced ‘unimaginable obstacles with fierce resilience, bravery and determination.’
