Secret Relationship Leads to Trial in Killing of Black Trans Woman in Rural South Carolina

The federal trial over the death of a Black transgender woman in rural South Carolina has shed light on her secret relationship with a man accused of killing her to prevent exposure of their affair. Prosecutors allege that the defendant, Daqua Lameek Ritter, murdered Dime Doe to conceal their relationship, while the defense argues that the evidence presented is only a snapshot of their exchanges. Witnesses have provided potentially damning testimony against Ritter, including seeing him with a firearm and exhibiting suspicious behavior after the woman's death. The trial has also revealed the challenges faced by transgender individuals in small communities and the impact of hate crimes based on gender identity.