Remembering Our Dead

TDoR 2022 / 2022 / March / 17 / Elise Malary

Elise Malary

Age 31

17 Mar 2022
Evanston, Illinois (USA)
Drowned

TDoR list ref: tgeu/tdor2022/11-Mar-2022/Elise Malary

Elise's body was found washed up on the shore of Lake Michigan on Thursday 17th March. She had been missing since Wednesday 9th March.

A dead body found [washed up on rocks near 500 Sheridan Square] in Lake Michigan has been identified as Elise Malary, a transgender activist who had been missing for over a week, police said Saturday.

Malary, 31, of Evanston, Illinois, was first reported missing on March 11 after not being in touch with family for two days, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Her body was found washed up on rocks on Thursday in Evanston, a suburb north of Chicago.

Considered a major transgender rights advocate by the local LGBTQ community, Malary's disappearance sparked a significant search effort. Her 2008 Honda Accord was eventually located on Tuesday, on the same Evanston street where she was last seen, prompting police to pursue security camera footage in the area. Prior to her body being found, police did not suspect foul play in Malary's case.

Elise was known for her social advocacy for the LGBTQ population, people of color and transgender people of color and was a board member with the Chicago Therapy Collective.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chicago Therapy Collective (@chitherapycollective)

A vigil for Elise was held on Sunday 20th March.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chicago Therapy Collective (@chitherapycollective)

In June 2022 the Cook County medical examiner's office reported that Elise died from drowning, but concluded that the manner of her death could not be determined.

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/07/13/andersonville-nonprofit-creating-permanent-mural-honoring-late-trans-activist-elise-malary/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2022/6/16/23171009/elise-malary-evanston-trans-drowning-autopsy

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/evanston/ct-evr-lake-body-determined-tl-0623-20220616-272t6i4kb5chzjmttgipoem56i-story.html

https://news.wttw.com/2022/04/03/lgbtq-community-speaks-out-following-deaths-two-chicago-area-black-trans-women

https://jezebel.com/four-trans-women-were-killed-or-found-dead-this-month-a-1848702201

https://theblackwallsttimes.com/2022/03/28/black-transgender-activist-found-dead-after-being-reported-missing/

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/she-chose-compassion-evanston-activist-elise-malary-remembered-at-vigil/2787944/

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/elise-malary-found-dead-lgbt-activist-illinios-b2040662.html

https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2022/3/21/chicago-trans-activist-elise-malary-found-dead-lakeshore

https://www.kcrg.com/2022/03/21/transgender-advocates-body-found-shore-lake-michigan/

https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/03/20/elise-malary-trans-rights-activist-chicago-lake-michigan/

https://www.ommercato.com/pt/trad/elise-malarys-body-found-after-fears-for-transgender-activists-safety-2_154756