NC trans woman KC Lee Johnson held hostage and murdered with hammer by man she met via dating app
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA: KC Lee Johnson, the missing transgender woman's remains were discovered on the banks of the Savannah River. The body of the 27-year-old woman from North Carolina who had been missing since January 2023 was discovered was found, as per the news release by the Wilmington Police Department said in a news release.
On January 13, Johnson was reported missing and was killed the next day in Wilmington, North Carolina. The human remains found on the bank of the Savannah River on January 18 have now been identified as Johnson's. In connection to her death, the alleged murderer William Haven Hicks, 26, was taken into custody in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, reported Law and Crime.
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Hicks faces multiple charges in Johnson's death
Hicks who was arrested 74 miles away from the crime was extradited to North Carolina. In connection to Johnson's death, the accused murderer faces charges of kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and first-degree murder. According to authorities, Johnson and Hicks met on a dating app.
Bulla Brodzinski, Johnson's partner described her as kind and caring. Talking to NBC affiliate WECT, Brodzinski said, "She motivated me to get out of a dark place and get my life back together," and added, "Finally, I was going on a good path. I was clean. I was taking better care of myself. I was getting out of that depressed state, and she was there for me. She was the one I could open up to."
'Our worst fears have become a reality'
Johnson's sister Amber Winnecoff set up a GoFundMe page following her death. On the page, Winnecoff revealed that the murderer traveled out of state with Johnson. "We spent 4 1/2 days without knowing, and our worst fears have become a reality. This was obviously very unexpected, so the funds to pay for a funeral aren’t exactly there, " read the page's description.
According to the LGBT magazine 'them', the transgender woman who was passionate about manga and anime was a manager at a Domino's Pizza.
The accused killer stole Johnson's financial cards valued at $100, ID, and purse after he killed her with a hammer. Johnson was transported without consent after Hicks held her hostage. He allegedly caused her "serious bodily injury," reported Port City Daily.