Kendra Cabeza
22 Sep 2025
Guayaquil, Guayas (Ecuador)
Murdered and dismembered
Kendra's body was found on a street with signs of torture several days after going missing.
She had lost both her brothers to murder and had herself been a victim of violence on several occasions.
The lifeless body of Kendra Cabeza, a trans woman and member of the ksatransec organization, was found in a public street with signs of torture, after having been reported missing on September 22, 2025. Her death has shocked human rights organizations and activists working with the trans and LGBTIQ+ population in the country.
According to accounts, Kendra Cabeza had gone out to talk to a man before her disappearance. With no news, her colleagues issued search alerts. Several days later, her body was found under circumstances that are still under investigation.
In an interview with this media outlet, Odalys Cayambe, leader and head of the ksatransec project, explained that Kendra came from a conflict-ridden area of Guayaquil and had been the victim of various episodes of violence.
“She was fleeing a very dangerous area where her brothers were murdered and her family had to leave,” Cayambe said.
Kendra arrived at Casa Trans several years ago. There, in addition to receiving support, she actively participated in cultural and social awareness initiatives such as voguing and Afrotransfeminism.
“Beyond being part of the project, she was a territorial leader who worked hard,” Cayambe added. The leader also indicated that Kendra is not the first case of murders of trans women in high-risk contexts in Ecuador, especially in peripheral areas affected by organized crime.
"Every month we bury a daughter. Many of our comrades have been murdered or disappeared, and there's no official record of all the cases," she said.
https://www.radiopichincha.com/transfemicidio-kendra-cabeza-odalys-caymbe/
https://x.com/radio_pichincha/status/1971630641239245030
