Charges Filed in Fatal Bludgeoning of Transgender Woman
A 24-year-old man from Chicago, identified as DeAndre Bell, has been charged with first-degree murder following the death of 31-year-old Davonta Curtis, as reported by CWB Chicago. Curtis is described as a “transgender woman,” a term often referring to biological males living as females, and was reportedly in a relationship with Bell.
Bell is also facing a charge for possession of a stolen vehicle and has been ordered to remain in custody. Prosecutors indicated that the couple spent Easter together at Curtis’s apartment. It is alleged that later that night, Bell struck Curtis in the head with a hammer. Surveillance footage reportedly captured him leaving the apartment around 1 a.m. the following day.
Concerned after not hearing from her brother, Curtis’s sister visited his apartment on April 8 and discovered his body partially concealed with a sheet. According to WGN, he was found unclothed.
Notably, Curtis’s car and keys were missing. Police later found a vehicle nearby with Bell at the wheel. He reportedly confessed to hitting Curtis with a hammer and taking his belongings, including keys, cellphone, and money. A bloody tool belt containing a hammer was discovered in Bell’s backpack.
Further investigation revealed that Bell’s cellphone had two searches linked to the murder, asking, “How do you kill someone with a hammer?” and “What happens if you get hit in the head with a hammer while you’re sleeping?” However, details about the motive remain unclear.
In a separate case, another violent incident in Chicago involved a 66-year-old man, Kevan Works, who was charged with first-degree murder in relation to the death of his 88-year-old mother, Daniesto Graves. Her body was found on April 7th, concealed in their shared home. Court documents detailed that her body had been wrapped in a rug and a garbage bag, showing signs of multiple blunt force injuries.
Additionally, recent reports indicated that during weekend riots in Chicago, at least 28 individuals were shot—one fatally—underscoring ongoing violence in the area.
