HATTIESBURG, Miss.- A vigil will be held on Tuesday at the Spectrum Center in Hattiesburg for a woman who was found murdered in a coast hotel over the weekend.
Police have arrested, and are holding without bail, 20-year-old Dwanya Hickerson of New Orleans for the crime.
Hickerson is a sailor at the Keesler Airforce Base and has been charged with capitol murder in the death of the 24 year old.
Investigators are still looking into whether more people were involved.
Dee Whigham was found stabbed to death in her hotel room at the Best Western on Saturday night.
Whigham’s family told police she identified as a woman but was born a male. She had not yet undergone gender reassignment surgery.
Authorities are speculating as to whether Whigham was targeted for being transgender.
If you have any information about this crime please contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department at 228-209-8124 or 228-769-3063.
