Human Remains Found On Georgia Riverbank Belong To Missing Transgender Woman, Alleged Killer Beat Victim With Hammer After Meeting On Dating App: Cops

The human remains found on the banks of the Savannah River in Georgia have been confirmed to be those of a missing transgender woman, according to authorities.

On Jan. 13, KC Lee Johnson, 27, of North Carolina, was reported missing, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

On Jan. 18, human remains were found on the riverbank and officials confirmed on April 4 that they belonged to Johnson after an autopsy was completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Officials determined Johnson was killed in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Jan. 14, shortly after allegedly meeting 26-year-old William Haven Hicks on social media.

According to Port City Daily, Hicks “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did of malice aforethought kill and murder KC Lee Johnson.” Court documents state that Hicks threatened Johnson with a hammer.

Authorities said Hicks stole Johnson’s personal property, including her purse, ID and financial cards, the latter valued at $100.

Court documents state Hicks restrained Johnson and took her “from one place to another” without consent, Port City Daily reported. Investigators reported that Hicks held Johnson hostage for ransom in “involuntary servitude, doing serious bodily injury” and “terrorizing” her.

Hicks was arrested in January in South Carolina and extradited to North Carolina, officials said. He was charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping in the death of Johnson.

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A GoFundMe page has been set up by Johnson’s sister, which states loved ones “spent 4 1/2 days without knowing and our worst fears have become a reality.”

Pastor Kelly Finch of Mosaic United Methodist Church said in a statement KC “did not deserve this” and “she deserved so much more,” Port City Daily reported.

According to the Human Rights Campaign, KC is one of at least seven trans or gender non-conforming people killed in 2023.