BOSTON — The Boston Police Unsolved Homicide Unit is renewing its call for information regarding the brutal murder of Rita Hester, a transgender African-American woman, who was fatally stabbed in her apartment more than two decades ago.
On the evening of Nov. 28, 1998, Hester was last observed alive around 5 p.m. as she left the Silhouette Lounge on Brighton Avenue.
The tragic event occurred at her residence at 21 Park Vale Avenue, where she was discovered with multiple stab wounds.
Despite immediate medical attention, Hester succumbed to her injuries, leaving a community in mourning and prompting a call to action that still resonates today.
Hester’s death not only devastated the local LGBTQ+ community but also led to the inception of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed annually on Nov. 20, to honor the memory of transgender individuals who have been lost to violence.
In the years following Hester’s murder, progress in the investigation has been elusive.
Authorities are actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding the case and are eager to receive any information that could lead to a resolution.
The Boston Police Department encourages anyone with knowledge about the murder of Rita Hester to contact the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470.
