34-year-old transgender woman Jax Gratton, who has been missing for the last two months, was found dead in Denver, Colorado on 6th June.
Jax, who was a hairdresser was last seen alive leaving her apartment on the night of the 15th April, according to a social media post from her mother, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis. Despite a search for her, and urges from the public for help, Jax wasn't found until last Friday. Lakewood police announced that a body was discovered in an alley in the 9600 block of West Colfax Avenue around 5pm. They officially confirmed that it was Jax the following day, after an investigation by the coroner. Jax's cause of death has yet to be announced, though it was revealed that she was in 'advance stages of decomposition'.
Jax's mother, Cherilynne, posted on Saturday that Jax had been found, and had died. 'With a broken heart, I share the news that our beloved Jax Gratton has been found — and she is no longer with us. There are no words strong enough for the grief we are feeling. The light she carried, the love she gave so freely, and the joy she brought into our lives have been taken from this world far too soon,” she wrote above a picture of a mural of Jax.
'I want to thank everyone — near and far — who has shown up for us. Everyone who shared her story. Everyone who shared her face. Everyone who sent out a prayer, a hope, a kind thought. Everyone who hit the ground running and hasn’t stopped. This has opened my eyes in ways I can’t ignore. It’s not just about Jax — it’s about all of you in the LGBTQIA+ community who face the world every day with courage, just wanting to live, love, and exist safely and equally. That should never be a fight. And yet it is.
'Jax Gratton was a light — I know that. She lit up so many lives just by being herself. Unapologetically. Fiercely. Fully. I see her in every act of love and strength you’ve shown, and I wish peace, love, and protection for all of you.'
On Monday afternoon a gathering of friends, family, and the LGBTQIA+ community gathered outside the City and County of Denver Building to remember Jax and celebrate her life. Having been an active member in the local community, many friends and colleagues of Jax were in attendance, including community group leaders and fellow hairdressers from her workplace.
People who knew Jax personally spoke about her life and the impact that she had upon theirs, as well as making calls to take further action against the rising transphobic sentiment and to fight for the transgender community. Z. Williams, who knew Jax through their activism, said 'That's the power of a personality like that, bringing people in to finding their voice.'
Jax's father, Mike Mastro, was in attendance and spoke to the gathered friends and supporters through a proxy speaker. He shared memories and stories of his daughter, including the time he got her to admit that she skipped out on school to go to Six Flags amusement park. 'I couldn’t even be mad at her for it. That’s who Jax was. She would rather tell the truth and get in trouble than to lie about it. A parent should never have to lose a child.'
Paul Salas, a friend of Jax's, said 'She was so many things to so many of us — a daughter, sister, friend, stylist, teacher, activist, beloved community member and so much more. To say that she will be missed doesn’t even touch the surface of the feeling of loss we are all having.'
Jax's mother has said 'My fear is that somebody killer her', when talking to People and the family has set up a GoFundMe to try to raise funds to commission an autopsy report to find further answers as to why Jax has died, and if possible find anyone who may be responsible.
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