Family Identifies Body Found In Malibu As Transgender Woman

MALIBU, CA — A 27-year-old transgender woman was positively identified by her family Sunday over the GoFundMe fundraising website. Though the identity of the body discovered last week was still being withheld by the Los Angeles County coroner's office, family members identified her as 27-year-old Day Rodas.

The body was found in the 33000 block of Mulholland Highway around 7:45 a.m. Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, Lost Hills station. The cause of death was not immediately known, but the sheriff's department said there were no apparent signs of trauma and no immediate threat to the community.

Day Rodas was reported missing after she unexpectedly stopped responding to texts and calls and missed work, according to a GoFundMe page created by her family. Rodas, who lived with family members, did not return home for two days, according to the page.

Not having a cause of death has been difficult for her loved ones, according to Day Rodas' sister, Susie Rodas.

"They don't know exactly how she died, which has been unsettling for my mother, father, my little brother and I," Susie Rodas said on the fundraising page.

Day Rodas was "pure and kind" and an advocate for LGBTQ rights, according to the GoFundMe.

She treated everyone with respect despite being treated poorly at times. Day Rodas had only come out as a transgender woman, according to Susie Rodas.

"She had so much love for family and friends and she saw the good in everyone," Susie Rodas said. "After being afraid for 27 years, she only got to live freely without fear for only six months which breaks our hearts."

A GoFundMe page for the Rodas family raised over $16,000 in just one day. According to organizers, the funds raised will help pay for funeral and memorial expenses.

City News Service contributed to this report.
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