Gender Fluid Teen Kedarie Johnson Murdered, But Why?

By Kayla Richard | Monday, March 2nd, 2020

BURLINGTON, Ia — After leaving the west side of Chicago in hopes of a better life and settling into the small town of predominately white eastern Iowa; Kedarie Johnson was known for his expressive, lively, and unique personality. Kedarie was also gender fluid (denoting or relating to a person who does not identify themselves as having a fixed gender). He was often seen wearing skirts, makeup, and weaves wherever he went, making it almost impossible not to notice him. Kedarie was accepted and loved by many at school and even outside of school for his unique appearance. Everyone knew Kedarie.

Sadly, a tragic and unexpected occurrence would change everything. On March 2nd, 2016 in Burlington, Iowa, Kedarie’s life would come to an end in the most brutal way possible. He is found dead behind tall grass after being suffocated, shot two times in the chest, and doused in bleach. The question not only remains ‘who did it?’ but ‘why?’ Kedarie was a ball of sunshine — the last person anyone would think to be murdered. This case would lead up to many questions and a fight for justice.

It’s been said in numerous articles that Kedarie was on his way to a friend’s house the evening before he was tragically killed. Kedarie was going to try on bras and model in them. But something worried Kedarie’s friend who claimed to be afraid of someone, a man named “Lumni” seen driving a red car and who stated was following Kedarie that day. After Kedarie had obtained the bras and surprisingly hadn’t stayed too late, Kedarie took the bras and placed them in his black and blue backpack. After that, he ventured his way into the forceful winds and dark night. This would be the last time Kedarie and his friend would see each other again.

It wasn’t until 11:36 p.m. that Kedarie’s body was found by the Burlington Police thrown out into an alleyway with two bullet holes in his chest and a strong, pungent smell of bleach lingering the air. He was seen wearing no other than his usual women wardrobe, but there were strands of weave pulled away from his scalp and a garbage bag clenched around his head that night. Police were shocked to find out that it was Kedarie Johnson and had to forcefully prepare themselves to share this devastating news with Burlington.

Fast forward to January 2018 two men were charged with first-degree murder in the case, by the names of 23-year-old Jorge “Lumni” Sanders-Galvez, and 26-year-old Jaron “Wikked West” Purham. It has been presumed that these two straight men planned to take Kedarie back to their house, but upon discovering Kedarie was a man, and not the woman they suspected, they reacted by murdering Kedarie. Their trials were scheduled for Tuesday that month.

Despite the suspected murderers who committed the inhumane crime against Kedarie Johnson had been caught, questions still skyrocket to know the murderous purpose. Katrina Johnson, Kedarie’s mom is still looking for answers to the same question, and she is dying to know. “I have always said it was a hate crime,” Katrina said. “I had to view his crime scene photos, and the photos in itself, it screams hate crime all over it.” Regardless of Katrina not knowing the full truth, she stands to believe her son was killed over violent hate crime. She states that without a doubt, his death was certainly not random.

Ever since the incident took place with Kedarie, the case would soon draw national headlines and sooner or later would meet eye to eye with the U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights division. Both the FBI and the Department of Justice’s civil rights division have been involved and assisted in the case, and a grand jury was ordered to come to terms with a federal indictment on a hate crime charge, which could bring upon the death penalty.

It came to light that Attorney General Jeff Sessions agreed to also be federally involved even after being a known conservative who has rolled back legal protections for transgender people as a group. But there would be someone much more necessary for this type of case, and that would be an experienced federal hate crime lawyer. Despite it being unusual for Iowa to take upon that sort of action, finding a hate crime lawyer would most likely be the only valuable solution. The local grand jury has decided to investigate the killing of being a possible hate crime.

Considering the road to finding answers has been a rocky one, Kedarie has and will remain in the hearts of loved ones throughout the Burlington community.