Detectives are investigating a body found behind a fast food restaurant on Thursday morning as a suspicious death, authorities said, according to the Orange County Register.
The body was discovered shortly before 11 a.m. by officers responding to reports of a person down behind the Dairy Queen that is located at 201 North State College, in Anaheim.
Police say the person, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was transgender. She was identified as Zoraida “Ale” Reyes of Santa Ana by her friends. It wasn’t immediately clear if there were signs of injury, but police said there was not an obvious cause of death.
According to de Colores Queer Orange County , Reyes was a 28-year-old Transgender Woman was born in Mexico, and grew up in Santa Ana, CA. Zoraida graduated from Century High School, Santa Ana College, and attended University California Santa Barbara. Zoraida was known as a loving woman; one that was always calm, a bit shy and wore a smile in her face when surrounded by loved ones. She was fearless and always proud of her Undocumented Transgender Latina identity. She was always sweet and willing to help in any way that she could. Zoraida always gave back to her community by advocating for Trans-Rights, Immigrant rights, and the DREAM movement as a member of Orange County DREAM Team, DeColores Queer Orange County, and Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement.
A service is planned for tonight, Friday, Juney 13, 2014, at Santa Ana Plaza, at the corner of 4th St and French St, in Santa Ana, at 5:30 p.m. Supporters and friends and family will walk in procession to Sasscer Park on 4th and Ross, Santa Ana, CA. They will have a community altar if folks want to bring an offering, flowers, pictures of Zoraida or candles, etc. FB Event : https://www.facebook.com/events/1431239897148076/.
Please also consider making a donation for her funeral expenses at http://www.gofundme.com/Zoraida or make a check donation to The Center OC, Memo: Zoraida and mail to 1605 N. Spurgeon St. Santa Ana, CA 92701.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS. Tips can be left anonymously.
