Damarean Kaylon Bible has been sentenced to prison for the murder of Savannah Ryan Williams.
A Minneapolis man, Damarean Kaylon Bible, has been sentenced to nearly 31 years in prison for the second-degree murder of Savannah Ryan Williams, a 38-year-old transgender woman.
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| Savannah Ryan Williams |
Bible, 25, fatally shot Williams in November 2022 after reportedly feeling "suspicious" during a sexual encounter with her. Although the crime raised concerns within the LGBTQ+ community, Hennepin County prosecutors stated they could not conclusively prove that the murder was motivated by bias.
Despite this, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said that hate may have been a factor, highlighting that the crime has deepened fears among the trans community, especially given the rising violence against transgender individuals nationwide.
Williams was well-known and loved within the local transgender community. Her murder is part of a troubling trend of escalating violence against transgender people, particularly transgender people of color.
According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and a 2021 report from the Williams Institute at UCLA, trans individuals are four times more likely than cisgender people to experience violent crimes.
Since 2013, the HRC has identified 335 transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals who were violently killed, with the majority being people of color. At least 25 trans or gender-expansive people have been murdered in 2023.
During the sentencing, Williams' family expressed their grief, describing her as a vibrant presence and a beloved member of their lives. Her mother, Kim Stillday, described Savannah as her best friend and a person who could light up any room. Two of her sisters, Gabrielle and Kelly Stillday, also spoke about the deep emotional toll the murder has had on their family. Bible briefly addressed the court, apologizing for his actions and acknowledging that he deserved prison time.
The case has sparked renewed calls for action from LGBTQ+ advocates. Minnesota state Representative Leigh Finke, the state’s first transgender legislator, vowed to continue fighting for measures that protect the trans community from violence. Finke highlighted the disproportionate violence faced by transgender people of color and reaffirmed the importance of legislative action in addressing this crisis. Under Minnesota law, Bible will serve approximately 20 years in prison, with the remainder of his sentence under supervised release.