Jurors on Wednesday convicted an East Bay man of murder in the 2021 death of a South Bay drag artist and trans woman who was beloved in the local LGBTQ+ community, authorities said.
Elijah Cruz Segura, 25, of Union City, was found guilty of second-degree murder in a San Jose courtroom for killing 24-year-old Natalia Smüt inside a Milpitas home the morning of April 23, 2021, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
The jury also affirmed a charging enhancement against Segura for using a knife. He faces a maximum punishment of 16 years to life in prison when he is sentenced, with a hearing tentatively scheduled for January.
“I hope this makes clear that our officer feels strongly about fighting for the rights of transgender victims and members of the LGBTQ+ community,” prosecutor Rebekah Wise said Wednesday. “We wanted to do justice for her and the life that she led.”
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An Afro-Rican trans woman from San Jose, Smüt was known for her “motivating and creative spirit, captivating performances, and her love for advocacy within the community,” according to a blog post by LGBTQ support and advocacy organization Project More. At a vigil held a day after she died, her fans and supporters spoke about how she cheered on their forays into drag performing, and for her courage in publicly sharing her life experiences to support other transgender people.
According to Milpitas police investigators, it was Segura himself who called 911 from a home on Hillview Court to report that someone had been cut in the throat. A bloody Segura later met responding police officers and led them to a second-floor unit where they found a gravely injured Smüt, who Segura was dating at the time.
Smüt died from her injuries at a local hospital, and police soon described the death as a domestic-violence killing. Wise noted that at trial, testimony painted a backdrop of hostile anti-trans language that Segura used against Smüt.
“This case highlights how for someone who is a transgender individual, there are so many ways a person can be abused or discriminated against that others don’t face,” Wise said. “It’s something for the general public and allies of the LGBTQ+ community should be aware of.”
This is a developing report. Check back for updates.