Transvesticide in La Plata: Nicol died, brutally beaten for defending her sister
Nicol Ruiz, a trans activist, was 35 years old. She died after suffering in the hospital, following a blow to the head inflicted by her brother-in-law on September 23.
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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina. The transvestite and trans community of La Plata is shocked by the transvesticide of Nicol Ruiz, a 35-year-old woman and mother of two children, who was savagely beaten in the head by her sister's partner.
The attack that resulted in her death was carried out on the night of Friday, September 23, at her sister's house. Nicol arrived at the house, located between 141st and 79th streets, in the Los Hornos neighborhood of La Plata, and found her sister arguing heatedly with her partner, Daniel Silvestrilli.
Nicol intervened in the argument to stop the man's violence, but the aggressor reacted against her, witnesses said. He struck her repeatedly on the head with a broom handle until she collapsed unconscious. Although she was immediately taken to San Martín Hospital, she remained hospitalized in critical condition and died on Monday the 26th.
Daniel Silvestrilli was incarcerated at Prison Unit Number 36 of the Buenos Aires Provincial Penitentiary Service. According to information provided to Presentes by Prosecutor's Office No. 2 of La Plata, on that Friday he was violating the terms of his temporary release and there was an outstanding arrest warrant out for him. Silvestrilli was serving a sentence of nine years and six months for aggravated robbery.
Nicol sister, mother, friend, companion
The accused will face charges of "homicide in the context of gender-based violence" in connection with the woman's death. His prosecution was being finalized in recent hours. The case is being handled by prosecutor Ana Medina of the Functional Instruction Unit (UFI).
Nicol was 35 years old and the mother of two teenagers. Her family emphasizes that she was the one who ran the household and provided for the family financially.
During the pandemic, when the housing situation was extreme for the LGBT population , Nicol showed solidarity and took care of containing and asking for help for her companions who had nowhere to live.
On social media, the woman's colleagues and friends bid her a sad farewell. "I have to say, 'Safe travels, Nicol!' Words aren't enough to say goodbye to a friend, colleague, and trans sister," expressed Val Iby.
For her part, Galaxia Rod told Presentes that they are experiencing profound grief these days. As friends of Nicol, they are supporting the family. “We still can’t believe it. They take our friends away from us as if it were nothing.” She posted these words on her Facebook page to say goodbye to her.
"You were truly amazing! Yesterday, while we were holding a vigil outside the hospital with all the girls, each of us had a piece of your story. You used to distribute supplies to the girls, going from political office to political office making sure things reached our comrades, organizing huge collections to pay for the wakes of the forgotten ones for whom no one contributes a single peso, joining the marches, cursing at us and then hugging us again, giving advice, and always being there. They've taken from us a comrade who organized, who dreamed of a better world and gave everything she had to make it happen."
The Otrans Civil Association, with whom she collaborated, bid farewell to Nicol and demanded justice for her murder. “We express our deepest condolences and profound sorrow to her family and friends for the transphobic murder of our colleague Nicol Ruiz. We also demand justice, taking into account the aggravating circumstance of hate based on self-perceived gender identity,” the statement reads.
She describes, “Nicol was the breadwinner, a mother of two children, who after her death are left without her protection. It becomes essential to include her on the emotional agenda of our country and for society to mourn and be horrified when a transvestite or travesti sister is killed.”
Nicol Ruiz suffered from kidney failure and required dialysis treatment. For this reason, it is believed that the blow caused an immediate blood clot to form in his head, complicating his condition.
Nicol's family and friends have called for a demonstration to be held on Wednesday, September 28 at 11 a.m. in front of Prosecutor's Office 7 (on 56th and 57th streets, La Plata) with the slogan "stop violence against transvestite and trans people."
From August onwards, there was an increase in lethal violence against people with diverse gender identities.
Carina Guzmán, 37, was murdered in Salta on August 31 of this year.
Alejandra Ironici, a 43-year-old activist, was murdered in Santa Fe on August 21..
Sofía Vera, 42, was murdered in Río Negro on Friday, August 12.
Pancha Quebracho, a transvestite icon who did not identify with a gender identity, was murdered on August 21 in Mar del Plata.
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