Grieving relatives of a transgender woman found dead in a truck in Hollywood are questioning the police theory surrounding the tragedy.
Emily Garcia, 25, was found unconscious next to another person in the car, which was parked outside a shelter for women and transgender people where she had been temporarily living.
The truck’s tinted windows hid the dead for nearly two days before a guard found her body.
When authorities looked inside, they found a white powdery substance that appeared to be fentanyl.
There were no signs of physical trauma and police have tentatively attributed Garcia’s death to a suspected drug overdose, but her relatives remain unconvinced.
Family members insist that Garcia’s life had just fallen into place and she was beginning to carve out a promising future, having finally earned U.S. citizenship and secured a marketing job that would start the day after her death.
Garcia hoped the job would be the start of a new chapter in her life, allowing her to achieve financial independence and stable housing.
For years she had been dealing with the instability of the shelter system, an issue she openly discussed in a podcast by the TransLatin@ Coalitiona Los Angeles-based advocacy group for transgender immigrants.
Emily Garcia, 25, a transgender Latina woman was found dead in October of a suspected drug overdose, although her family disputes this theory
Garcia’s body was found along with another body in a truck parked outside the Hollywood hideout, pictured, where she had been living
“She was finding her feet,” her sister, Maria Tuch, told the Los Angeles Times. “She dreamed of being independent and helping our mother get her papers.”
Tuch described her sister as a loving, energetic person who radiated positivity.
As the family struggles with their loss, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s death.
Tuch insists her sister was not known to be using drugs and questions the police’s overdose theory.
“It’s hard to accept because I don’t think it was an overdose,” she said, calling for a more thorough investigation.
Their suspicions are only heightened by the fact that Garcia was wearing sweatpants – something she wouldn’t normally wear and a completely uncharacteristic clothing choice for someone who took immense pride in her appearance.
“She would never dress like that,” Tuch said. ‘It’s not right.’
The family is now working with attorneys and contacting authorities for security footage from the shelter, hoping it can shed light on Garcia’s final hours.
The family struggles with their loss and doubts remain about the circumstances surrounding Garcia’s death
Family members insist that Garcia’s life had just fallen into place and she was beginning to carve out a promising future, having finally earned U.S. citizenship and secured a marketing job that would start the day after her death.
The family is now working with lawyers and contacting authorities for security footage from the shelter, hoping it can shed light on Garcia’s final hours.
They also have questions about why shelter staff did not notice her absence.
The LAPD has said it appears Garcia’s death was accidental, but the case remains open pending toxicology results.
Homicide detectives are investigating, given the presence of two bodies and the possible involvement of drugs.
Hate crimes against transgender people in Los Angeles County have risen sharply, with 69 reported incidents in 2023, compared to 54 in 2022.
Garcia herself faced brutal harassment, which her sister discovered when she searched her phone after her death.
“People told her, ‘I know you’re still a man,’ and she said, ‘No, I’m a young lady,’” Tuch said.
“She was proud and outspoken about her transgender womanhood. I don’t know if someone harmed her out of revenge or vengeance.
“Behind all her joy and happiness was sadness, especially because of the discrimination she faced from humanity or others based on who she was.”
Garcia’s resilience and determination were celebrated at a Trans Day of Remembrance event at Los Angeles City Hall, where Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez honored her life.
She came to the US as an “unaccompanied minor” and had “faced unimaginable obstacles with fierce resilience, courage and determination.”