Page 3 - 7-24-15 Friday's Edition

Features
Dress Not Important:
Mother Wants Her Child’s Killer Caught
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
From the moment of his birth, Samuel Elija Clarke was special because he wasn’t supposed to be born. His mother, Mrs. Thelma Clarke, had had a tubal lig- ation the year before. She de- scribes him as “my miracle baby.” And now, her miracle baby is dead at the hands of an unknown assailant.
The news media contin- ues to harp on the fact that Clarke, who went by the names of “India or Tru Bella on Facebook,” was dressed in women’s clothing at the time of his death.
Mrs. Clarke and her family feel too much empha- sis is being placed on that issue.
“He didn’t care what any- one said about the way he was, he was very outspoken. It didn’t change the love we have for him. Everyone is talking about the way he was dressed, I just want to know who killed my child,” Mrs. Clarke said.
And law enforcement agrees with them. Larry McKinnon, spokesman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said, “A per- son’s lifestyle may provide clues about what happened to him, but it doesn’t lessen
our resolve to determine who is responsible for killing him. We are working just as hard onthiscaseaswedoanyof our other cases.
“How he was dressed is not important. Whoever did this must be brought to jus- tice and this is a very aggres- sive investigation. If this person killed once, then he will kill again and we want to stop him before he does.”
The investigation into Clarke’s death began early Tuesday when an employee of the University Area Com- munity Center, 14013 N. 22nd Street, discovered what ap- peared to be the body of a woman, shortly before 9 a.m.
Police later identified the victim as Samuel Elija Clarke, 25, of Tampa. The cause of death was listed as blunt trauma.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Hillsb0rough County Sheriff’s Office at (813) 247- 8200. Or anyone who wants to provide information, but remain anonymous can con- tact Crime Stoppers at 1- 800-873-TIPS (8477), or www.crimestopperstb.com.
Callers may be eligible for a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the identity and whereabouts of suspects in this case.
SAMUEL “INDIA” CLARKE 5/3/1990 --- 7/21/2015
Enjoying Life
A Tampa native, Clarke
attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. She graduated from Hillsborough High School in 2007. Her goal was to follow in her mother’s footsteps and be- come a Cosmetologist.
Clarke began school, but stopped on more than one occasion. Mrs. Clarke said she planned to go back. “I had asked him about school and he said the school would allow him to come back. He was close to finishing.”
Mrs. Clarke said the family learned about Clarke’s lifestyle about four years ago. His lifestyle didn’t change their love and it didn’t change his love for them.
“He always told me that he loved me. He loved his whole family, that included his siblings, grandparents, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was just a very loving person.”
He was very popular and has so many friends that his mother didn’t know them all. But, she knew her son loved his friends and they loved him.
Clarke was a person who knew what he liked and took pride in his appearance. Mrs. Clarke said he made sure he was looking good and only wore MAC makeup. On many occasions, he did his
own hair, and he enjoyed partying, having a good time, and taking photographs of himself.
The last time Mr. and Mrs. Clarke saw their son was on Sunday. His father, Samuel Clarke was cutting the grass. They exchanged pleasantries and Clarke told his parents he loved them. They told him, they loved him as well, and he left.
Clarke wasn’t attending church at the time of his death. But, his mother said, “He grew up in church, and he knew the Lord. The church was in his heart.”
In addition to having to deal with the murder of their 25-year-old son, the Clarkes said they don’t have insur- ance to cover the funeral. “Anyone who can help, please do,” Mrs. Clarke said.
Clarke’s sister has estab- lished an account at www.gofundme.comZX N2UA2 Rest In Peace India Clarke.
The family had not cho- sen a funeral home to handle arrangements at press time.
Equality Florida Calls For More Accurate Reporting
The Equality Florida In- stitute, Inc., issued a press re- lease pertaining to the recent murder of Samuel Elija Clarke, also known as “India Clarke.” Clarke’s body was found in North Tampa earlier this week. He was dressed in women’s clothing at the time of his death.
The press release stated in part, “Family, friends as well as the entire LGBT commu- nity are grieving over the murder of India Clarke, a transgender woman of color whose body was found Tues- day morning on the play- ground of the University Area Community Center in north Tampa.
“While the sheriff’s inves- tigation continues, this much is known: Ms. Clarke was the 10th transgender woman to be murdered in the U.S. al- ready this year. In all of 2014, there were 12 such murders.
Most victims were women of color. It is an alarming trend, tragic in every case, under- scoring the particular vulner- ability of this part of our community.
“Unfortunately, the initial reporting of her death in local news media inaccurately de- scribed her as “a man in a dress.” We know how difficult it is to report crime news on deadline, especially when one must rely only on limited in- formation issued by law en- forcement.
“But such a cavalier, de- humanizing description only intensifies the pain and fear in transgender people, who know all too well the lack of understanding that makes them so often the victims of discrimination and violence. You won’t have to go far on- line to see the outrage that has spread across the country about these initially flawed reports.”
FRIDAY, JULY 24, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A