Murder of Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells
| Murder of Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells | |
|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Date | June 6, 2020 |
Attack type | Murder by stabbing |
| Weapons |
|
| Victim | Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells |
| Perpetrator | Akhenaton Jones |
| Verdict | Guilty |
| Convictions |
|
The upper body of Dominique "Rem'mie" Fells was found floating in the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, on June 8, 2020, and her legs were found three days later by dive teams. It was determined that she had been killed on June 6. Akhenaton Jones was convicted of the murder on June 9, 2025.
Background
[edit]Fells, born on July 30, 1992, was a transgender rights activist, fashion designer, and artist who lived in Pennsylvania. She resided in the Morris Home for transgender people for a time.[1] In 2019, she organized a fashion show called Rock the Runway – A Trans Empowerment Fashion Show.[2]
Murder
[edit]On June 8, 2020, the 27-year-old Fells's body was found floating in the Schuylkill River near Bartram's Garden.[3] Her legs had been cut off; she had been beaten and stabbed over 40 times.[4] Three days later, her legs were found in trash bags by dive teams.[5]
Police suspicion soon revolved around a man named Akhenaton Jones, with whom Fells had formerly been romantically involved.[4] Jones and Fells, witnesses reported, had gone into Jones's bedroom on June 6, 2020. Later, those same witnesses found Fell's body in the bedroom, covered in blood. Police investigated, finding a bloody knife, a bloody electric saw, a bloody hazmat suit, and large amounts of blood spatter. Surveillance videos found Jones taking a trash can and trash bag filled with the remains into a white van, which he then drove to the Schuylkill River.[6]
Jones attempted to evade arrest by fleeing to California, but was apprehended and extradited from Los Angeles.[7][8]
Conviction and aftermath
[edit]Jones was tried in December 2024, and claimed to have done the disposal but not the killing. This ended in a mistrial. He was retried and convicted on June 9, 2025, of first-degree murder, possession of an instrument of crime, and abuse of a corpse.[9]
The Thomas Jefferson University created an endowed scholarship in honor of Fells, for transgender and non-binary students.[10] Politicians and celebrities, including Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Kamala Harris, mourned her death,[11] as did Philadelphia community leaders.[12]
The event, along with the death of Riah Milton at the same time, sparked protests across the country where thousands took to the streets.[13][14][15][16][17]
References
[edit]- ^ "Trans Woman Dominique Fells's Murder Shocks Philadelphia Community". Business Insider. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "Transgender Woman's Dismembered Remains Pulled From Philadelphia River". People. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "Dominique Fells". Stanford Exhibits. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ a b "Philadelphia man convicted in murder of trans woman". Metro Weekly. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ Czech, Ted. "Suspect in murder of transgender York native 'Rem'mie' Fells arrested, police say". York Daily Record. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
- ^ "Philadelphia Jury Convicts Akhenaton Jones for Role in Murder of Dominique Rem'mie Fells". Office of the District Attorney : City of Philadelphia. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "Family of transgender woman killed in 2020 remembers daughter after murderer convicted: "Dominique's life mattered" - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. 16 June 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "Arrest Made in Killing, Mutilation of Philadelphia Trans Woman". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ Cwiek, Tim (10 May 2026). "Killer of Rem'mie Fells found guilty of first-degree murder". Philadelphia Gay News. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
- ^ "The Dominique 'Rem'mie' Fells Scholarship". giving.jefferson.edu. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "Two Black Trans Women Were Killed In The Last Week". Time. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "City's Office of LGBT Affairs Issues Statement on the Murder of Dominique Rem'mie Fells | Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion". City of Philadelphia. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "'Say her name': Protesters seek justice for Black, trans community amid ongoing unrest". WHYY. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ "'Say Her Name': Philly Protesters seek justice for Black, trans women". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ Gabbatt, Adam (15 June 2020). "Tens of thousands across US march in support of black trans people". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ Kelly, Cara. "Two Black transgender women were killed last week, thousands showed up to protest". USA TODAY. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ^ Dickson, Ej (15 June 2020). "Thousands Take to the Streets to Demand Justice for Murdered Trans Women". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 3 May 2026.