Remembering Our Dead

Stephanie Yazum

Stephanie was found in her kitchen with her throat cut. She died in hospital.

Her killer, David A. Bronson, was subsequently sentenced to 35 years to life.

Police, who arrived on scene shortly thereafter, found Yazun lying on the floor of her kitchen, bleeding from a deep slash to their throat. She was pronounced dead at 5:20am at Ellis Hospital.

Police and locals suspect that it is likely that the killer met Yazum in a local bar where she regularly hung out, and that she took this person (or persons) home with her. A friend of Yazum indicated that she an innocent and trusting person, who simply wanted to be loved.

Although Yazum's wallet was found by investigators on a stairway in the apartment building, police do not consider this to be a robbery, but rather have labeled this crime to be about Stephanie's "lifestyle."

Those who lived near Stephanie considered her a nice, quiet individual. She was short at 4' 11" and a mere 95 pounds, due in part to some life-long medical conditions. She was still very attached to her parents, who would pick her up for church every Sunday.

It is unsure how Stephanie placed herself within the community, though she was still working in a masculine role, and was largely known as a man who crossdressed in the evening. One friend of hers has indicated that she was in therapy and was considering going full-time and seeking gender reassignment.

The Daily Gazette, March 24, 2000

https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/appellate-division-third-department/2006/2006-02932.html

https://digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1081&context=buffalobelles

http://students673.ucr.edu/docsserver/lgbt/trans_remembrance_display_posters.pdf

Report added: 22 Dec 2018. Last updated: 11 Mar 2024

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