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Case Description
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A transwoman was found strangled inside her Manhattan Hotel room
On December 25, 1988, Venus Xtravaganza, a 23-year-old transgender woman and prominent figure in New York City's ballroom scene, was found murdered at the Duchess Hotel. Venus was a rising star in the ballroom culture and was featured in the documentary *Paris Is Burning*, which depicted the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in the drag and ballroom community. Her body was discovered by a hotel housekeeper under a bed in one of the rooms, and it was determined that she had been strangled.
Ve ...Read More
On December 25, 1988, Venus Xtravaganza, a 23-year-old transgender woman and prominent figure in New York City's ballroom scene, was found murdered at the Duchess Hotel. Venus was a rising star in the ballroom culture and was featured in the documentary *Paris Is Burning*, which depicted the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals in the drag and ballroom community. Her body was discovered by a hotel housekeeper under a bed in one of the rooms, and it was determined that she had been strangled.
Ve ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (10)
See any mistakes?Victim Details
Venus Xtravaganza
July 6, 2023
New York
NY
1988-12-25
1988-12-21
1965-05-22
23
Venus Xtravaganza
Venus
Xtravaganza
11/21/2025
Area Body Found:
Forum Posts (2)
I've been doing some reading on the tragic murder of Venus Xtravaganza, and one thing that really st... ...Read More
11/22/2024
11/22/2024
I’ve been diving into the case of Venus Xtravaganza and something that really stands out to me is ... ...Read More
06/30/2023
06/30/2023
