Arrest Made in Murder of Philadelphia Trans Man Mar'Quis 'MJ' Jackson

A man has been arrested in the death of Philadelphia transgender activist Marquis “MJ” Jackson.

U.S. marshals arrested Charles Mitchell, 40, of Philadelphia over the weekend in Henderson, Nev., several Philly media outlets report. He faces charges of “murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence,” according to TV station WPVI. He had been identified as a suspect in January, and the Philadelphia district attorney’s office sought the public’s help in locating him.

Jackson, a Black trans man, was found dead December 14 in the backyard of a home in Philadelphia. He had sustained blunt force trauma to his head, and there were cuts and bruises on his hands and legs. He had been missing since December 12, which was his 33^rd birthday.

His mother called several of his friends and acquaintances, and she eventually reached the occupant of the residence where his body was found. His remains may have been in the yard for the entire two days.

Jackson was a supporter of many LGBTQ+ organizations, including the William Way Community Center in Philadelphia and the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Friends described him as someone who was “full of life and love” and “would get the party started anywhere.”

Markiya Jackson, his sister, appeared at a March press conference held by District Attorney Larry Krasner to announce there was a warrant for Mitchell’s arrest and to call attention to anti-LGBTQ+ violence in general.

“My brother deserves justice. My family deserves justice,” Markiya Jackson said, according to radio station KYW. “I really hope someone comes forward very soon.”

In recent years, Philadelphia has also seen the deaths of Black trans women Shahere “Diamond” Jackson-McDonald and Tracy “Mia” Green, both due to gun violence. Abdullah El-Amin Jaamia has been convicted of third-degree murder in Green's death and sentenced to serve 17 and a half years to 35 years in prison. Jackson-McDonald's case remains unsolved.

Mar’Quis Jackson was at least the 38^th trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming person to die by violence in the U.S. in 2022. There are likely many more such deaths in any given year, as many go unreported or misreported.