Subject: [iyf] IYF-San Jose Victim Identified
Date: Tue, 1 Feb 2000 08:28:20 -0500
From: owner-iyf-online@gpac.org

MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Editor: Clare Howell, clare@gpac.org

Contact: Bill Romano, bromano@sjmercury.com

SAN JOSE MURDER VICTIM IDENTIFIED
=================================

[San Jose, CA: 1 Feb 00] THE BODY OF TRANS-
gendered woman, Alina, found in the trunk of 
a car on 19 Jan 00, is that of 19-year-old 
Manuel Reyes Eredia, also known as Alina 
Marie Barragan.

	Kozi Santino Scott, 21, in whose car 
trunk Alina was found, was arrested and is 
being held at the Santa Clara County Jail. 

	The San Jose Mercury News reports that 
Scott met Alina at a bar on 18 Jan and invited 
her home with him. Scott subsequently told a 
friend about the killing. The friend called 
police and alerted them to look in the trunk, 
where Alina's body was wrapped in sheets and 
a blanket.

	The Attorney General's office is 
investigating whether to classify the killing 
as a hate crime, which could lengthen any 
sentence given to Scott should he be found 
guilty.

	A spokesman for the victim's family 
stated that Alina lived openly as a woman and 
was accepted by her family. Teenage girls in 
the neighborhood accepted her as one of their 
own. Jean Giguere, a former neighbor who knew 
Alina as a child, said it was evident that she 
felt most comfortable around girls. "He was a 
girl living in a boy's body," she said.

	Alina was well known at the Billy DeFrank 
Lesbian and Gay Community Center where she worked 
as a volunteer. The Center has established a 
fund for assisting Alina's family with funeral 
expenses. 

	Contributions may be sent to: Alina 
Barragan Burial Fund, account number 010-4263744, 
California Federal Bank, 3490 Stevens Creek Blvd., 
San Jose, CA, 95117.

		###

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