According to an autopsy report, a transgender woman had suffered beatings right before she died. Roxsana Hernandez Rodriguez, 33, was being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The autopsy report states that Rodriguez had “deep bruising’ on her hands and abdomen” which implies she suffered “blows, and/or kicks, and possible strikes with blunt object.”
Rodriguez was seeking asylum in America, to escape being killed in Honduras. In an interview she did with BuzzFeed News, she said, “Trans people in my neighborhood are killed and chopped into pieces, then dumped inside potato bags.” “I didn’t want to come to Mexico—I wanted to stay in Honduras but I couldn’t…They kill trans people in Honduras. I’m scared of that,” she finished.
Rodriguez was also a victim of rape before she became detained by ICE. She was assaulted by MS-13 gang members on her way home one day, which later led to her contraction of HIV. It’s been shared that she suffered a critical case of dehydration on top of the beatings.
ICE is denying all claims. A spokesperson for ICE claims that the accusations are not true.
Kris Sperry, forensic pathologist said in the report that “there she developed severe diarrhea and vomiting over the course of several days.” Witnesses, who were detained with Rodriguez, say that she went days without receiving medical treatment. If she had received medical attention immediately, it’s possible she would still be alive.
The autopsy report was released on Monday. Sperry declared that the cause of death was likely due to dehydration, which was onset by her pre-existing HIV.
Rodriguez’s family is seeking legal actions.
