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[News updated on 25/1/2019 at 17:00]

Report from Paraná: Gisela Romero

In the early hours of January 24, in the city of Paraná (Entre Ríos), the death of Jésica Benavídez, a 33-year-old trans woman, was confirmed. She eked out a living as a sex worker and lived in extreme poverty. Her colleagues called her “La Nicky.” Originally from Santa Elena (La Paz), she had arrived in the capital of Entre Ríos more than 10 years ago.

The body was released to his family early Friday morning, January 25, and taken to Santa Elena. His remains were laid in state at the Sabatini Funeral Home, located at 636 Paraná Street, in his hometown, and buried early this afternoon.

Today, some autopsy results were also released: they showed no signs of violence in Jésica Benavídez's death. The toxicology results are now pending.

"No signs of violence"

Prosecutor Martín Wasinger confirmed Friday morning that there were “no signs of violence” on Jésica Benavidez’s body, Alejandra Elcura, coordinator of the Provincial Area of ​​Gender Identity and Sexual Diversity Policies at the Undersecretariat of Human Rights of Entre Ríos, told Presentes. “It has been ruled out that it was a transphobic hate crime. They are now awaiting the results of the toxicology tests to determine if she ingested something that made her ill,” she added.

After speaking with the judicial official, Elcura commented that some time before she died, Jésica “was with another person”, “around 3 in the morning she felt unwell, went outside the house to get some air and came back.”

“From the province, we stand with the family and offer our support. We regret the circumstances of Jessica’s death,” the official said.

Jessica lived in extreme poverty, in a ranch located in the eastern part of Paraná. She was found dead there in the early hours of January 24th.

"Doubtful death"

It was a neighbor who found Jessica's lifeless body inside her ranch. She was half-naked and sitting, lifeless, in a chair.

“We are in shock. She was an extraordinary person. Some of her friends saw her last night on the street and say she went home with a young man,” Iara Quiroga, a trans activist from Paraná, told Presentes.

“I’m still in shock. I knew her from when she was handing out condoms in Paraná, while I was a student. She looked out for me. She was a great friend. She died in the worst possible conditions,” said trans activist Keili González. She added: “While the courts are investigating the cause of her death, the State is ultimately responsible. In 2019, for trans people, simply existing is a privilege. The State doesn’t create public policies to pave the way for trans people. She lived off prostitution, little by little, with the help of her friends.”

Speaking to local channel Elonce TV, Commissioner Matías Dominici, head of Police Station 15, said that "the death was determined to be suspicious due to the way the body was found." It was taken to the morgue in Oro Verde for an autopsy.

The Provincial Area of ​​Gender Identity and Sexual Diversity Policies of the Undersecretariat of Human Rights of Entre Ríos informed Presentes: “Jésica lived in Paraná, where she had many friends, but she was originally from Santa Elena. Therefore, we have to coordinate the transfer and we have made ourselves available as a province.”

Shortly after Jesica's body was found, Alejandra Elcura, coordinator of the aforementioned provincial area, stated: “The first thing we did was contact the prosecutor assigned to the case. Due to protocol, we won't have any further information until the autopsy results are available. But the Prosecutor's Office is working diligently to clarify the facts. According to the report the prosecutor provided, there appear to be no signs of violence on the body. We must await the autopsy results to determine the cause of death. We are currently working to support Jesica's friends and family to ensure they can travel from Santa Elena to Paraná.”

Entre Ríos, without a trans job quota

“Jessica’s death is sad news for Paraná. It is also one of the reasons why we presented the bill for trans labor inclusion in the province,” Alejandra Elcura stated.

“We believe this initiative is important because the facts increasingly show us that the life expectancy of trans women does not exceed 35 years. Jésica was 33 and worked as a prostitute, which is what trans women usually do because they have no other job options. That is why what we are promoting is fundamental,” she concluded.

The bill, authored by provincial deputy Emilce Pross (Front for Victory), was introduced in late 2018 and received a favorable opinion in December. It proposes, among other things, “to promote and guarantee labor rights for transvestite, transsexual, and transgender people.”