Shantal
17 Sep 2025
Barranquilla, Atlántico (Colombia)
Not reported
Shantal reportedly died in intensive care several days after being beaten in the street. However, an autopsy described her death as being due to natural causes.
[Editor's Note: Because of the discrepencies between the two reports, Shantal's death is recorded here as "not reported", although in reality two possible causes of death were reported - one through violence, and one by natural causes.]
On September 19, Caribe Afirmativo, an NGO that promotes respect for and recognition of the rights of LGBTQ+ people in the Colombian Caribbean, denounced the violent death of a trans woman, identified as Shantal.
In a statement, the organization said the trans woman, who was the popular queen of the Rebolo Gay Carnival and also a cultural leader, was the victim of a violent attack, for which she remained in intensive care for several days .
However, EL HERALDO learned of Shantal's death certificate, which certifies that her death was due to natural causes.
According to the general, authorities learned of this case after reading the statement issued by Caribe Afirmativo, so they began investigating.
"The information we have is that the homeless woman, who was also a trans woman, was admitted to the health center for respiratory problems. There, they detected that she had tuberculosis, and that was the cause of death. She also apparently had a second HIV diagnosis," explained the MEBAR commander, noting that this information was shared by the doctor with the human rights official.
He noted that the institution was not aware of the case earlier because it was not a violent death, but a natural one: "She did have some bruises on her arms, according to what they told me, but according to what the doctor said, they were bruises from some time ago, not recent. The cause of death was tuberculosis, a respiratory infection, which is why the body was not taken to the Forensic Medicine Department because the death certificate was listed as natural," he explained.
https://x.com/Caribeafirmativ/status/1968704533929836849
