Murder of Angie Zapata

Angie Zapata (August 5, 1989 – July 17, 2008) was an American trans woman beaten to death in Greeley, Colorado. Her killer, Allen Andrade, was convicted of first-degree murder and committing a hate crime, because he murdered her after learning she was transgender. The case was the first in the nation to get a conviction for a hate crime involving a transgender victim, which occurred in 2009.[1] Zapata's story and murder were featured on Univision's November 1, 2009 Aquí y Ahora television show.

Angie Zapata
Born(1989-08-05)August 5, 1989
Brighton, Colorado, U.S.
DiedJuly 17, 2008(2008-07-17) (aged 18)
Greeley, Colorado, U.S.

Early life

Zapata was born on August 5, 1989, in Brighton, Colorado. From an early age, Zapata was feminine and expressed an attraction to boys. In middle school, Zapata disclosed her female gender identity to family and close friends. She adopted the name "Angie" when amongst family, while presenting as male in public. At the age of 16, she began living full-time as a woman.[1][2]

Zapata had three sisters and an older brother, Gonzalo. Her family was supportive, although her mother worried for her safety.[2]

Murder and trial

Zapata was 18 when she met Allen Andrade (aged 31 at the time) through the mobile phone social network MocoSpace.[2] According to Andrade, the two met on July 15, 2008, and spent nearly three days together, during which Zapata performed oral sex on Andrade but refused to let Andrade touch her. Andrade suspected Zapata was transgender after seeing photographs of her and confirmed she was transgender after grabbing her genitals after confronting her, to which she said "I am all woman".

He subsequently began beating her—first with his fists and then with a fire extinguisher —until she was dead. Zapata attempted to sit up and "gurgled” but Andrade hit her on the head again to make sure she was dead.[3]

In the arrest affidavit, Andrade said he thought he had "killed it" before leaving in Zapata's car with the murder weapon and other incriminating evidence.[4] Andrade was arrested near his residence driving Zapata's car.[5]

The possibility of prosecuting the case as a hate crime was pressed by Zapata's family.[6][7][8] The actual trial began on April 16, 2009. During the trial, the jury heard jailhouse conversations in which Andrade told a girlfriend that "gay things must die".[1] Part of Andrade's confession was deemed inadmissible as police had ignored Andrade's attempt to invoke his right to remain silent.[9]

On April 22, 2009, Andrade was found guilty of first-degree murder, hate crimes, aggravated motor vehicle theft, and identity theft.[10][11] He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.[10] As Andrade had six prior felony convictions, the judge dubbed him a "habitual criminal" at his May 8, 2009 sentencing trial for the hate crime and theft convictions. This added an additional 60 years to his sentence.[11] As of October 2015, Andrade is serving his time at Limon Correctional Facility.[12]

Dedication

The 2011 novel The Butterfly and the Flame by Dana De Young was dedicated in part to Zapata's memory.[13]

Ozomatli references Zapata in their song "Gay Vatos in Love", on their 2010 album Fire Away.[14]

References
  1. Spellman, Jim (April 22, 2009). "Transgender murder, hate crime conviction a first". CNN. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  2. Asmar, Melanie (May 28, 2009). "Who was Angie Zapata? Her murderer's trial didn't tell the whole story". Westword. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2014.
  3. "Transgender Teen's Murder Suspect Snapped". ABC News.
  4. Whaley, Monte (July 31, 2008). "Transgender victim referred to as "it"". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  5. Banda, P. Solomon (July 31, 2008). "Colorado man charged in transgender slaying". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 3, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  6. Staff (July 23, 2008). "Hundreds mourn slain teen; hate crime suspected". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  7. Whaley, Monte (July 24, 2008). "Kin believe transgender teen's killing a hate crime". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  8. Whaley, Monte (July 25, 2008). "Transgender teen's murder possibly a hate crime". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
  9. Blaze, Alex (March 12, 2009). "Judge throws out confession in Angie Zapata case". The Bilerico Project. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  10. Luning, Ernest (April 22, 2009). "Andrade sentenced to life without parole in Zapata killing". The Colorado Independent. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  11. Asmar, Melanie (May 8, 2009). "In Zapata case, sixty years added to murderer's life sentence". Westword. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  12. Colorado Department of Corrections (n.d.). "Andrade, Allen R DOC # 104109". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  13. The Butterfly and the Flame, by De Young, Dana. Published by iUniverse Apr 27, 2011. Read May 30, 2011
  14. "La Plaza". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
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