Transgender teenager mourned as police investigate her death

Authorities still not sure if killing was hate crime

By Jakob Rodgers, Greeley Tribune

Published July 25, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
Updated July 25, 2008 at 12:23 a.m.

Text size  

• 5 Comments
• Email
• Print

Angie Zapata was described by friends as "always happy."

Greeley police said Thursday they have not determined whether the death of a transgender teen was a hate crime.

"We didn't find anything on scene to indicate it was," said Sgt. Joe Tymkowych, a police spokesman, who noted the investigation is still in its early stages.

Angie Zapata, who was born male but identified herself as a woman, was found dead July 17 in her apartment in the 2000 block of Fourth Street in Greeley. She had wounds on her head and face.

Her car, a green 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser, with Colorado license plate 441ORN, is missing.

Nearly 200 friends and family of Zapata's smiled in memory and cried in remorse at her funeral Wednesday night, recalling the victim as someone who never backed down from who she was.

"We are here to celebrate the life of a person, the life of a person cut down in the prime of their life," senior pastor Joe Sanchez said at her funeral at the Healing Place in Brighton.

Instead of focusing on the tragedy that took Zapata from their lives, those in attendance decided to remember her simple and unique qualities.

Two friends reminisced about the way she would spoil her niece and nephew, even quitting a job to take care of them. Or the way she always made sure her makeup was good - even when simply taking a trip to Wal-Mart.

"She was always happy," said Alicia Portillo, one of Angie's friends. "She loved music. She didn't care what people thought of her. She always just wanted to be who she was, and that was female, and to be loved."

Portillo said Zapata's courage helped her with her own identity as a lesbian.

"Angie gave me the power to not care what people thought of me," Portillo said.

Kelly Costello of the Colorado Anti-Violence Program said the group speculates that Zapata's death might be a hate crime, and that such incidences usually do not end with one act of violence.

"We often find that hate crimes have a ripple effect. They affect everyone that identifies in that community," said Costello. "So it's no longer about the individual, but there's an increased vulnerability and fear among the community."

Sanchez talked after the service, recalling a message he shared with the family before the service.

"Give them hope," said Sanchez, who remarked how happy he was that Zapata began attending the church a month before her death. "And give them a desire to go on and to know that this isn't goodbye, but this is 'see you in the morning.' It's not an end, it's not an end. It's a message of hope for eternity."

Staff writer Ashleigh Oldland contributed to this report.

• July 25, 2008

  12:34 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  SL10 writes:

  Born a male, but became a female? Call me old fashion but this is unreal in my world. Sorry that a life was lost tho. RIP.

• July 25, 2008

  2:43 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  happymike44 writes:

  This is no way for anyone to die.
  I lost my nephew in a freak accident and miss him everyday.
  This prson was born the U.S> where they were able to be who they are.
  In other countries around the world people like this are murdered on a wholesale level.
  Don't let the death of this person go unsolved because if they murdered this person.
  They may murder anyone and that means it could be anyone next.
  May she rest in peace with our good Lord watching over her.
  To her family I am truly sorry for your loss for I know even today a year latr we still miss my nephew.
  God Bless you and watch over you.
  I also want to leave everyone else with this thought-Hatred and murder is not a aceptable family value.

• July 25, 2008

  9:29 a.m.

  blacksho89 writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• July 25, 2008

  10:10 a.m.

  Justin_Credible writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• July 25, 2008

  11:57 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Blondo writes:

  black and Justin: Show some respect. You make me sick. A human life was lost. Her life could not have been easy--as clearly evidenced by your comments. Why even bother to post a comment?

• July 25, 2008

  1:22 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  wisdomwriter writes:

  Well said, Blondo. I bet if this was about a relative of Justin or black, they would be singing a different tune....

• July 25, 2008

  11:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  nonayerbsns writes:

  The world lost another beautiful soul. How sad for those still living and not understanding.

Featured

• Winter Escapes

  

  Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

• Rocky Multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Broncos Video

  

  More Broncos videos. Get the latest from Dove Valley

• Sam Adams' Open Mic

  

  Open Mic: Ink-stained wretches in sports

• Season To Share

  

  The Post-News Season To Share campaign provides grants to area nonprofits.

• The Rocky @ 150 Years

  

  The Rocky was there when Colorado became a state in 1876. Read our coverage.

• A Dozen on Denver

  

  And the winner is... Robert Ziegler! See the whole fiction series by clicking here.

• Stein's View

  

  Editorial cartoons by Ed Stein

• Bronco Dean's rant

  

  Listen to Bronco Dean's midweek rant on the Raiders.