The Murder of January Lapuz

Written By Lindsay Eldridge

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Content Warning: This episode is about the death of a transgender person. It also includes brief details of Indigenous trauma and residential schools. 

24/7 Crisis Line for Indian Residential School Survivors: call 1-800-721-0066

In 2012, a beloved community figure was killed in her own home in an extremely violent attack. It would take a while to learn what happened to her and who was responsible, but the immense loss of her absence was felt immediately by all who knew her - or knew of her.

"Hi. My name is January. I know it's a cold month, but I make it hot!"

More information:

Canadian True Crime donates monthly to help those facing injustice.

This month we have donated to the Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society in memory of January Marie Lapuz.

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Credits:

Special thanks to Alex Sangha and Ash Brar from Sher Vancouver.

Research: Eliot Newton
Writing, sound design, additional research: Kristi Lee
Audio editing and production, theme songs: We Talk of Dreams
Production assistance: Jesse Hawke
Script consulting: Carol Weinberg
Disclaimer voiced by Erik Krosby

Music credits:
Theme songs - intro and outro - We Talk of Dreams
Additional music: Blue Dot Sessions: Dawn Line Approaching, Sunset at Sandy Isle, So Go We, Setting Pace, Setting Pace - Are We Nervous, Cold and Hard, Setting Pace - Alt Dark, The Coal Hollow, Dawn Line Approaching - Tension Builder, Evidence Room, Uncertain Ground, Uncertain Ground - Naked Bass, Sunset at Sandy Isle

Resources and Information Sources

Court document:

Documentary:

News articles: 

My Name Was January:

More statistics and studies:

Other online sources:

Jamie Neel and family

Philippines and illegal baby trade

Comments:

We believe in freedom of speech, transparency and open discourse, and we never block critical comments of our episodes in these comments sections.

That said, this is a page dedicated to January Lapuz - a generous woman who believed in acceptance, open-mindedness and not judging others. We will be affording her the same curtesy here by not publishing any comments designed to disparage her or her community in any way. Her death was a tragedy and she is missed by many.

The studies, statistics and peer-reviewed data by health professionals and scientists show that the only “trans agenda” is to prevent transgender people from dying - whether by murder, suicide, or lack of health care.

Lindsay Eldridge
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Colin Thatcher and the Murder of JoAnn Wilson
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The Lake Family Murders