Landmark Hate Crime Verdict: Man Convicted of Killing Transgender Woman

Jurors convicted Daqua Ritter of shooting Dime Doe due to her gender identity, marking the first federal trial over a bias-motivated crime of that kind. The Department of Justice heavily relied on text message evidence to prove the hate crime element, with jurors finding it difficult to determine Ritter's motive. The messages revealed Ritter's fear of being exposed in his rural community and his manipulation of the victim, shedding light on the dangers faced by transgender individuals in relationships. The jury foreperson, Dee Elder, a transgender woman, emphasized the significance of transgender representation in the justice system and the real-world risks associated with dating for transgender women.