MIAMI Seaside – For the to start with time, we are hearing from the mother of a 37-12 months-previous transgender woman who police say was beaten to dying early Tuesday with a metallic pipe.
“It really is just really unhappy what was carried out to her. It was just truly really unhappy,” reported Ana Van Gilst, the mother of Andrea Dos Passos. “No 1 deserves to go that way.”
CBS Information Miami
“She was a pretty variety person. She was a pretty loving particular person. She did not see negative in any person. She desired to be helpful with everybody,” she emotionally advised CBS Information Miami’s Peter D’Oench. “Even when she was tiny she would say hello to most people. She was also a quite totally free spirit. She didn’t like rules. She didn’t like constraints.”
“So one particular of our battles with her on mental overall health was she mentioned I will go any where but I will not be locked up,” Van Gilst added. “She mentioned I can not eliminate my liberty and she stated I can not lose who I am.”
Miami Beach Police say Andrea was crushed to dying with a steel pipe whilst she was sleeping outside the house the Miami City ballet constructing. Her mother and father mentioned she was homeless.
Gregory Gibert, 53, has been charged with the crime. He arrived ahead of MIami-Dade Circuit Court docket Decide Mindy Glazer on Thursday and prices have been upgraded from second-degree murder to first-diploma murder. Gibert was held without having bond.
Choose Glazer located possible bring about for the rates and appointed an Assistant Community Defender for Gibert.
“Why did this happen?,” Van Gilst requested. “Did they know each and every other?”
She and her husband Victor, the victim’s stepfather, confirmed CBS News Miami the bed room in which Andrea sometimes stayed in their residence.
“So numerous periods I stated to her honey, why you should not you transfer back again residence?” Van Gilst mentioned. “Let’s do your treatment. We will support you. We have served her so substantially with all of her changeover.”
Van Gilst claimed Andrea was her only youngster and experienced been dealing with psychological wellness issues for far more than 15 several years. She stated that she and her spouse experienced completed almost everything they could to assist her. Victor Van Gilst reported his stepdaughter chose to dwell on the avenue.
“We explained to her move back again dwelling and she explained ‘no’ since at household there are rules and I never want to stick to policies,” he explained.
The LGBTQ group, Pridelines, held a vigil Thursday night at their headquarters at 1130 Washington Avenue to honor her everyday living and mourn her loss of life.
Victor Van Gilst said he questioned the detective in this circumstance if the murder was a despise crime. He reported the detective could not say if it was.
