Missing Black Lives Matter Activist Found Dead Saturday

The body of 19-year old Black Lives Matter protester, Oluwatoyin Salau, was discovered Saturday in Tallahassee, along with that of another woman, 75-year-old Victoria Sims. The two women had been reported missing in early June. 

Although police have released few details regarding the circumstances of how the women died, they are treating both as homicides. A suspect, 49-year old Aaron Glee Jr., has been taken into custody. While police have yet to provide details regarding his connection to either Salau or Sims, the Tallahassee Democrat reports that Mr. Glee lives on Monday Road, the same street where the women’s bodies were found. 

Salau, who was first reported missing on June 6, had been an active voice in the Black Lives Matter protests in Tallahassee.  Before disappearing, she’d tweeted that she’d been the victim of a sexual assault by a man who’d offered to help her move items from a church where she’d been living. 

Police have not identified Glee as a potential suspect in this case, nor have they announced if there is an investigation into the alleged assault. Prior to his arrest, Glee had been charged with battery relating to an assault on another woman that took place at the end of last month.

Before her disappearance, Salau had spoken to protesters in front of the Tallahassee police department. Video of Salau’s speech has received over 8 million views on Twitter. 

“It’s not that all lives don’t matter,” Salau says in that clip. “But right now, our lives matter. Black lives matter. Black trans lives matter. Trans lives matter.” 

Time reports that Salau’s disappearance and death have led to growing calls for increased awareness of violence against Black women. 


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