Latest news with #JaxGratton
CBS News
5 days ago
- CBS News
Victim's advocate calls autopsy report for Denver hairstylist Jax Gratton "concerning," "suspicious"
A recently obtained autopsy report for a Denver hairstylist, who was missing for over two months before being found dead, is raising questions and concerns for her mother and her victim advocate. Jax Gratton, 34, was last seen alive on April 15 and reported missing by her mother on April 24. The autopsy report, obtained by CBS News Colorado on Thursday through an open records request, lacks details on the timeline of events, but says that Gratton, a transgender woman, was seen leaving her apartment with a man on April 15. The report says Gratton and that man "had a prior history of consensual sexual relations." The two went back to his second-floor Lakewood apartment on April 15 and were later joined by a second man, according to the autopsy report, which doesn't identify either man by name. It's also unclear when the men spoke to law enforcement, but the report says the men told investigators that Gratton was sleeping when she vomited. "Our detectives continue to work with this active investigation. To ensure that it is not compromised, we unfortunately cannot comment at this time," Lindsey Witzel, a public information officer for the Lakewood Police Department, said on Thursday. The two men say they propped her up on her side and the first man left his apartment for an unspecified amount of time. He says that when he returned, Gratton was gone. Her body was discovered in a fenced-off area between that apartment and an adjacent building by the owner of the other building on June 6. "The second-floor window in this apartment was directly above where the decedent's body was subsequently discovered," the autopsy report reads. Dr. John Carver, a forensic pathologist with the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, said the time between Gratton's death and the discovery of her body made aspects of the investigation difficult to determine her cause, manner, and exact time of her death. "Due to the length of time between the decedent's death and the discovery of her body, autopsy findings that might have helped to establish a cause and manner of death may have been obscured or eliminated," he wrote, in part. "Given these uncertainties, the cause and manner of death are undetermined." Z Williams, co-director of the Bread and Roses Legal Center and victim's advocate for Gratton's mother, has been raising awareness about Gratton's death and criticizing the Lakewood Police Department and Jefferson County Coroner's handling of the investigation for months. Williams says Gratton's mother reported challenges communicating with the coroner's office, including a lack of communication and representatives of the coroner's office speaking "sternly or tersely" to her mother, "often scolding her," and calling a friend to ask about Gratton's medical information, and other issues. As of Monday evening, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office hadn't yet responded to a request for comment sent on Friday. Williams went on to say that Lakewood police "deadnamed" Gratton, a term that refers to calling a transgender person by their birth name, not the one they may have changed their name to. Williams is urging police and other local officials to allow an independent oversight board, similar to Denver's Citizen Oversight Board, with at least one transgender person on the proposed board. "It's been pretty defensive and honestly argumentative, especially from the chief," Williams told CBS Colorado on Thursday. They're calling for an independent autopsy, saying "there are so many pieces we don't know." With police not commenting on the investigation, investigators won't say if either man who Gratton was last seen with is being treated as a suspect or person of interest in the case, but Williams says, "their story is very suspicious" and that police "have not been clear about how they view these individuals." "They basically said that they thought that she had overdosed on (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and rolled her on her side and just left her in a building alone and then when they came back, she was gone, and that just doesn't line up," Williams said, explaining that Gratton was found without any of her personal belongings, including her phone, bag, glasses, shoes, or medication, "and she does have some pretty concerning fractures." An outspoken advocate and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community that Gratton was a part of, she felt strongly about providing a space where other queer and transgender people felt welcomed and valued. She also volunteered her time, talents, and money to help homeless residents. "She cared deeply about every person," Williams said. "She was someone who not only did haircuts for unhoused folks, but she felt very strongly that they need to be done in a salon so that folks got to have the experience and the decency of other people. She made these care kits with her own money that she would put together that had food and hygiene items and socks and she would hand them out to folks so that they would have their basic needs taken care of." Williams went on to say Gratton was a "deeply beloved artist, member of the recovery community, loved in the hair community, and especially in the LGBT community, where she'd been very active and had been since her teenage years." In December 2020, Gratton was featured in a CBS Colorado story about recovering stolen medication for her blind neighbor after she witnessed someone steal mail from her Denver apartment building. "Whether you met Jax once or even if you didn't know her at all, she just had such an impact on the community that was felt all over," Williams said. It's unclear how the investigation will move forward, but Williams organized protests outside Lakewood City Council meetings and has spoken during the public comment portion of the council's past meetings. They said protests will take place at city council meetings until an independent oversight committee is established.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Yahoo
Autopsy Sheds Light on Final Moments Before Denver Hairstylist Disappeared, but Her Cause of Death Can't Be Determined
"The effects of postmortem decomposition have made it impossible to prove or rule out multiple possible mechanisms of death," read Jax Gratton's autopsy reportNEED TO KNOW The cause of death is undetermined for Jax Gratton, a Denver hairstylist who was missing for almost two months The news comes after her body was discovered in an alley in Lakewood, Colo. on June 6 Officials could not "determine whether she was pushed, fell or jumped from the window while alive, or was dropped from the window after death"Almost four months after hairstylist Jax Gratton was last seen alive, authorities have announced that her cause of death can't be determined, due to how severely decomposed her remains were by the time her body was found. The frantic search for the 34-year-old woman began in April and ended with the discovery of her remains in a narrow space between two buildings in Lakewood, Colo., a suburb of her home city of Denver, on Friday, June 6. "The effects of postmortem decomposition have made it impossible to prove or rule out multiple possible mechanisms of death, including complications of drug use, accidental blunt force injuries, assault by another, or some other scenario," authorities said in the autopsy report obtained by PEOPLE from the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. "Given these uncertainties, the cause and manner of death are undetermined," officials concluded. A spokesperson for the Lakewood Police Department says they cannot comment further due to their ongoing investigation. Gratton was last seen on Tuesday, April 15, near the 4200 block of E. Iliff Avenue, the Denver Police Department said at the time. Friends and family told ABC affiliate KMGH-TV that Gratton left her apartment at approximately 10 p.m. local time and told her roommate that she'd be out for about three hours — but she never came back. In the autopsy report, officials said that the video footage showed her leaving her residence with a man "with whom she had a reported prior history of consensual sexual relations." The man, who was not named in the report, told investigators that after picking up Gratton, they went to his second-story apartment in Lakewood, where another man joined them. That apartment, as officials noted in the autopsy report, was "in one of the buildings adjoining the narrow space" where she was eventually found dead. At the apartment, they reported that Gratton had used gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and was, at one point "lying on a futon, snoring." She later vomited and the other two individuals "stated that they propped her up on her side," officials said in the report, which noted that "both men then reportedly left the apartment." Earlier in the report, investigators wrote that "if GHB causes deep sedation, the risk of asphyxia by aspiration of gastric content is increased if the individual is lying face up." Although aspiration may have caused or contributed to Gratton's death, authorities said that testing for GHB was not possible. Gratton, who had previously gone to rehab for drug use, did test positive for other substances, such as THC and methamphetamine, according to the report. According to the report, the first man told investigators that when he returned to his apartment, Gratton was no longer there. Her body was eventually found directly under the window of the apartment by the owner of the adjacent building, authorities noted. "If her body fell from the second story window of the room where [she was] last reportedly seen alive, autopsy cannot determine whether she was pushed, fell or jumped from the window while alive, or was dropped from the window after death," officials wrote. Fractures of two of Gratton's ribs would coincide with any of those scenarios. A joint separation and a fracture in her neck were also described by investigators. Officials went on to note that her hands and arms "showed no evidence of defensive injuries" and that although strangulation couldn't be ruled out, authorities found "no clear evidence of pressure on the neck as a possible mechanism of death" and that her injuries could have been caused by a fall or decomposition. Jax's mom, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis, 60, lives out of state and previously told PEOPLE that she grew concerned when she didn't receive a call from Jax on Easter. At first, her mom believed that Jax's roommate, who had last seen her as she was exiting their apartment, had already filed a missing persons report. While the roommate did contact police, a report wasn't filed, so she rushed to get one submitted — and by Wednesday, April 24, over a week after she was last seen, Jax was officially reported as missing. While Jax remained missing, concerned loved ones continued to post flyers throughout Denver and post on social media. After more than 30 days without news about her daughter's whereabouts, Gratton-Camis previously told PEOPLE that she feared the worst had happened. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. On the evening of June 6, Jax's body was found on the 9600 block of W. Colfax Ave in Lakewood, the Lakewood Police Department announced in a statement on Facebook. 'This case is being treated as a suspicious death," authorities said at the time, "and we are working with our partners at the Denver Police Department on this case.' Following the discovery, the local LGBTQ+ community rallied around the woman's family and remembered Jax, a trans woman, at a memorial three days after her death. "Jax is looking down and she is proud of the community that she brought together," one of her friends told NBC affiliate KUSA. "Every walk of life has shown up for her and it's very beautiful. Whether you knew Jax or not, you can see how really loved and cared for she is." For Jax's grieving family, the pain is unending, but so is the memory of the caring, bright woman. 'There are no words strong enough for the grief we are feeling,' Gratton-Camis wrote on Facebook when Jax's body was found. '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.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Yahoo
Friends remember Jax Gratton two months after she went missing
DENVER (KDVR) — Friends gathered at the Denver City and County Building Monday to remember Jax Gratton, the Denver hairstylist who went missing nearly two months ago. Jax's mother says her daughter's body was found in Lakewood Friday night, although Lakewood police have not confirmed that. Teen accused of killing Commerce City 16-year-old released ahead of a trial 'As a proud and fierce transgender woman, Jax faced adversity with grace, strength, and an unshakable sense of self,' Brandy Carey, a friend, said to the crowd. 'She was funny, loud, loving, and just a joy to be around.' The group said they are seeking information and justice. Lakewood Police say they are investigating a suspicious death after a badly decomposed body was found in an alley in the 9600 block of West Colfax Avenue Friday. The Jefferson County Coroner has not publicly identified the victim or the cause of death. 'We are scared, we are hurting, and we are angry,' Tynk Insy said at the gathering. Trio of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' stars to headline Denver PrideFest's Center Stage State Representative Brianna Titone read a statement to the group from Jax's mother, Cherilynn Gratton-Camis. It said in part, 'Today, we speak the name of a daughter, a friend, and a beautiful human being who should still be here. Jax Gratton. She was bold. She was loud. She was full of life, creativity, and love. She dreamed of adventures, of making art that helped people see the beauty in life. She wanted what every person deserves—a chance to live safely and fully, as herself. But the world around her made that feel like too much to ask. She was trans, and she was terrified. Not because of who she was, but because of what the world is becoming.' Cherilynn Gratton-Camis A service was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Monday, at the Highlands United Methodist Church. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
09-06-2025
- CBS News
Friends, colleagues gather to remember life of Jax Gratton after Denver hairstylist found dead
Amidst tears and warm embraces, Jax Gratton's presence was felt in Denver on Monday morning. "The reach has gone all the way internationally," Brandy Carey, a friend of hers, told CBS Colorado. "That's what she does." The Denver hairstylist, who identified as a transgender woman and was a prominent member of the city's LGBTQ+ community, had been missing for over two months. After a long search, Lakewood police announced on Saturday afternoon that they had found a body that could be Gratton. While the Jefferson County Coroner's Office has yet to identify the body, her family believes it to be her. On Monday afternoon, an impromptu celebration of life and newspress conference was called outside the City and County of Denver Building. In attendance were various community groups and leaders, as well as those who knew Gratton from a variety of places, be it the salon where she worked, the clubs she frequented, or the activist organizations she was a part of. "I think she's still doing that now," Carey said of her friend's ability to connect people. "She's brought so many of us together that didn't know each other." Brandy Carey remembers her friend Jax Gratton at a news conference and memorial in Denver on Monday, June 9, 2025. CBS Along with tearful testimonials of how Gratton impacted their lives, many speakers included a call to action: to fight for and advocate for marginalized communities the way she did. "That's the power of a personality like that," said Z. Williams, who met Gratton through activist circles, "bringing people in to finding their voice." While Williams told CBS News Colorado that much of her social circle is in those places, Gratton had a rare talent for existing in any social setting and making friends everywhere. Her death has galvanized many to take up her causes, as opposed to just focusing on the nature of her passing. "That's not martyrdom or anything like that," Williams explained. "That's just continuing the things that Jax started and ignited in many people." Z. Williams speaks about the community that her late friend Jax Gratton helped cultivate in their activist circles. CBS Statements were read on behalf of Gratton's siblings and parents, while friends and colleagues remembered the joyful moments and memories. "There's so many different funny stories to remember about Jax," said Carey. "So many candid things. And I'll always keep that with me." While the investigation, including the identification of the body in the Coroner's Office and the cause of death, is still underway, the LGBTQ+ community in Denver is taking a moment to remember one of their own. Regardless of how Gratton passed, they say, the lifelong mission of advocating for uplifting marginalized communities in the area lives on in each of them. A memorial for Jax Gratton sits in front of the City and County of Denver building on Monday, June 9, 2025 as friends and colleagues gather at a news conference and memorial for the Denver hairstylist. CBS "Our communities are supposed to gather and come together to make lives better and that's what Jax wanted," Carey said. A GoFundMe has been set up for the family.
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The Independent
09-06-2025
- The Independent
Mom's heartbreak as hairstylist daughter who mysteriously vanished found dead two months later
A heartbroken mom has posted an emotional tribute after her daughter was found dead, two months after she mysteriously disappeared. Jax Gratton, 34, had been working as a hairstylist in Denver when she went missing on April 15. Her friends and family had appealed for her whereabouts in online appeals for weeks, with her mom fearing her daughter, who was transgender, may have been killed. On Friday, her mom Cherilynne Gratton-Camis confirmed the news that her body had been found. Police are now investigating the death as 'suspicious'. 'With a broken heart, I share the news that our beloved Jax Gratton has been found — and she is no longer with us,' she wrote on Facebook. '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.' In the post about her daughter, Gratton-Camis also paid tribute to the support from the LGBT+ community. '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,' the mother added. Gratton had vanished after leaving her apartment and telling her flatmate she would be back in three hours. She never returned. On Saturday, Lakewood Police Department said they were 'investigating a suspicious death' after 'someone discovered a dead body in an alleyway' in west Denver, Colorado, early Friday evening. 'The body was in advanced stages of decomposition and could not be positively identified. It does appear to be the body of an adult,' Lakewood PD stated. An autopsy with the Jefferson County Coroner's Office was due to be held Sunday to conduct an official identification and to determine the cause of death. Gratton-Camis confirmed to Denver7 that it was her daughter's body that was found by Lakewood PD, adding that she was identified by her tattoos. The 34-year-old was wearing the same clothes she left in, which the grief-stricken mother said brought her comfort as she suspected her daughter had died the same night of her disappearance. "That is comforting to me,' her mother told Denver7. 'She was gone the same night she left her house. She didn't spend 6-7 weeks in horrible situations.' Speaking to People magazine, the mother revealed that despite having difficult periods with drug and alcohol abuse, her daughter was doing well at the time of her disappearance. 'She operated a successful business,' says Gratton-Camis. 'She has friends that she has been friends with since middle school.' Her mother also shared that Gratton had donated her time as a stylist to homeless people in the area and adored her family.
