Episode 107: The Tragic Death of Two Spirit Fred Martinez

Fred Matinez was a Navajo teenager who identified as a traditional nádleehi, one born as a male but whose gender is fluid and often functions in the role of a woman. Because of this entwining of male and female spirits, the term “two spirit” is often used as well by indigenous LGBTQ+ peoples.

On June 16, 2001 Fred Martinez was brutally murdered, just a quarter of a mile from his home, becoming one of the youngest victims of a hate crime in modern history.

This is his story.

And from all of us here at Murder Coaster, we wish everyone a Happy Pride Month.

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Creepy Amusement Park theme by Brandon Fiechter and Derek Fiechter, used by permission and with many thanks.

FEATURING THE SONGS:

“Navajo Night” by Jason Shaw courtesy Free Music Archive Deed - Attribution 3.0 United States - Creative Commons

“A Hard Rain Is What The Land needs” and “Ballad Of Christ” by HoliznaCC0 courtesy of Free Music Archive.

“native_american_flute.wav” by ChromeLibrarian -- https://freesound.org/s/59484/ -- License: Sampling+

“Native American flute de-noised and de-breathed” by Petrucio -- https://freesound.org/s/276977/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Jesse Walter Fewkes field recordings of the Passamaquoddy Indians. (1890) Native Americans on the Recording Registry | Registry Titles with Descriptions and Expanded Essays | Recording Registry | National Recording Preservation Board | Programs | Library of Congress

VA State Fair # 11 (Rodeo Announcer w Crowd Noise).wav by Smokey_B -- https://freesound.org/s/98226/ -- License: Attribution 3.0

REFERENCES:

TWO SPIRITS 2011 documentary directed by Lydia Nibley Two Spirits | Native American Gender Diversity | Independent Lens | PBS

ADVOCATE November 17, 2023 Murders of LGBTQ+ People Often Go Unsolved by Alex Cooper

NAVAJO PEOPLE March 12, 2011 Navajo creation story – The First World “Nihodilhil” (Black World) by Harold Carey Jr

THE DÎNÉ: ORIGIN MYTHS OF THE NAVAHO INDIANS by AILEEN O'BRYAN Origin Myths of the Navaho Indians: The Creation | Sacred Texts Archive

The Durango Herald, Friday, Sep 6, 2019 Bret Hauff Staff reporter Man who murdered LGBTQ teen in Cortez is released from prison - The Durango Herald

THE CINEMAHOLIC May 9, 2023 Fred Martinez Murder: Where is Shaun Murphy Today? by Sounak Sengupta

SPL Center September 7, 2022 Hate crime laws, explained

SF GATE August 25,2001 Remembering a slain son / Mom to lead vigil for her 16-year-old By Christopher Heredia,Chronicle Staff Writer

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