Florida sheriff's deputies are investigating the slaying of a transgender woman whose body was found in her burning car.
NBC 2 News reports the Hendry County Sheriff's Office is investigating the Sept. 4 death of 23-year-old Bee Love Slater in Clewiston, Florida.
The Human Rights Campaign says Slater is at least the 18th transgender woman to be killed in 2019.
Capt. Susan Harrelle declined to tell the Palm Beach Post how Slater died, saying only the killer or a witness would know that.
She said detectives are investigating whether Slater's gender identity was a motive for the slaying.
Arlene Goldberg, a local LGBT advocate, told NBC 2 News she won't call it a hate crime until officials do. But she believes it's a strong possibility.
“It certainly could be a hate crime because there are many hate crimes around the country as it relates to the transgender community. Especially those of color," Goldberg said.
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Deputies said they still are trying to find out who killed Bee Love and why.
“We can’t say it’s a hate crime yet because we don’t know what the motive was. A hate crime is a little more than that. It’s an enhancement charge," Harrelle said.
