Transgender woman, 27, is found dead in her cell on Rikers Island as heartbroken family blast prison bosses for ‘failing to protect’ her
- 27-year-old transgender woman, Layleen Polanco, was found dead in her cell at the prison on Rikers Island, New York, on Friday afternoon
- Polanco was arrested in April for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver and being in possession of a controlled substance in Harlem
- She was found unresponsive in her cell in the part of the prison on Rikers Island that houses female inmates
An investigation has been launched after a transgender woman was found dead in her cell at Rikers Island jail in New York City.
Layleen Polanco, 27, had been arrested on April 16th for allegedly assaulting a cab driver in Harlem and having a controlled substance.
Officials at the Queens jail found Polanco unresponsive in her cell on Friday afternoon in the part of the prison on Rikers Island that houses female inmates.
27-year-old transgender woman, Layleen Polanco, was found dead in her cell at the prison on Rikers Island, New York, on Friday afternoon
Polanco was arrested in April for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver and being in possession of a controlled substance in Harlem
Despite efforts to revive her, she was pronounced dead an hour later according to ABC7.
Officials say it does not appear foul play was an issue, but the Department of Correction is promising a full investigation.
Members of the transgender community are planning a rally outside 100 Centre Street for Monday to demand answers and justice for Polanco.
The Medical Examiner will work to determine the cause of death.
Polanco is the 10th trans woman to be found dead in the US this year.
In a statement, her family said, ‘We are heartbroken over the death of our beloved Layleen, whose bright light was an inspiration to all who knew her,’ adding that the city ‘failed to protect Layleen.’
She was found unresponsive in her cell in the part of the prison on Rikers Island that houses female inmates (file photo)
‘The family demands answers and we are entitled to them,’ the statement said.
Polanco was a member of the House of Xtravanganza, which was founded in 1982 and became publicly recognized after featuring in the 1991 documentary Paris is Burning.
‘Heartbroken and enraged from the harsh reality that Layleen Polanco, who was incarcerated on Rikers Island,’ said Janet Mock, who directed Pose, a TV series about the 1980s ballroom scene in New York.
‘Folks are gathering Monday in NYC and collecting donations to help lay her to rest. We need to check and challenge anyone seeking to police our bodies, genders, and identities. Rest in power, Layleen,’ Mock said to Pink News.
‘I grew up looking to Layleen as my goal. She was one of the most beautiful women I ever seen who was trans. She and so many other girls were an example to me,’ wrote actress Indya Moore, on Twitter.