CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago man is charged with first-degree murder after prosecutors say he searched online for how to kill someone with a hammer before fatally attacking a Black transgender woman inside her West Side apartment.
Deandre Bell, 24, is accused in the killing of Davonta Curtis, 31, whose body was discovered in her Garfield Park apartment earlier this month. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide caused by multiple blunt-force injuries.
Prosecutors said Bell conducted internet searches prior to the killing, including phrases such as how to kill someone with a hammer and what happens if someone is hit in the head with a hammer while sleeping. Authorities allege the attack occurred inside Curtis’ apartment, where she was struck repeatedly in the head.
Curtis’ body was found by a relative days later, partially covered near a pool of blood, according to court records.
Police said Bell was identified as a suspect through surveillance footage and other evidence collected during the investigation. He was allegedly seen leaving the apartment building alone in the early morning hours around the time of the killing. Authorities also said Bell was later found driving Curtis’ vehicle and in possession of her belongings.
During a detention hearing, prosecutors said Bell admitted to striking Curtis with a hammer and taking items from the apartment after the attack. A judge ordered him held without bail.
Investigators said Bell and Curtis had an on-and-off relationship prior to the killing. Officials have not announced a definitive motive, and the case remains under investigation.
Curtis’ death has drawn attention from advocates who note the disproportionate levels of violence faced by Black transgender women in the United States.
Bell is expected to return to court as the case proceeds. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence under Illinois law.
