Well, at least no one knows he was dating a trans woman now.

So the family knew their 17 year old was dating a 27 year old? They even said “he seemed nice” why would they be okay with a 27 year old hanging around a minor?

While I agree that being trans is definitely something you need to let your partners or potential partners know about, I'm more than a little disappointed that people in the comments are more concerned about Mercedes' appearance. This is a 17 year old who was murdered by someone that should have never been in her life to begin with and the adults in her life clearly aren't taking any accountability for that. May she rest in peace. The absolutely least anyone can do is not mock her.

Why aren't the police talking about a 27 year old ex-con dating a 17 year old and possibly since the kid was 16 years old.

He couldn't tell Mercedes was trans?!?!?! Gtfoh

Parents, dont let your kids date adults.

Just a healthy community, full of perfectly sane people

wtf is even happening anymore

He’s stupid, you were trying to hide your affair but instead of breaking it off, you murder them and make it get more attention 🤦‍♀️ I do not understand these people’s thought process

The old “I blacked out” scenario. How convenient

I’m a transgender woman and I’m on dating sites(yes, I list myself as trans female) and when the few times a man contacts me and says he doesn’t mind that I’m transgender, I always talk him out of it…it’s weird cause I do want a partner but on the other hand, I would be selfish if I allowed a man to date me and ruin his life. If it gets out that you’re with me(a trans woman), people in your life will disown you and be angry with you. People will harass and maybe even assault you. I tell men they will hate the experience and will hate themselves for dumpster diving with a trans…I hate being single but I’d hate destroying a man’s life even more so I’ll die unloved and alone.

The way Josh says "this person" and "it" sent chills down my spine.

So the mom knew they were sexually active? IN HER OWN HOME? A 17 y/o and a 27 y/o? Wow

This was a grown man. He had no right to be with a child. Idc if people think 17 is old enough. This is so disturbing.

Imagine being so sexually insecure that you would kill someone. Just say it ain't your thing and move on.

Any guy dating a minor has issues to begin with.

So Mercedes was 17 and the dude was 27 huge red flags…….. 🚩🤦🏾‍♀️💔

This man had a taser, hammer and knife and claims it was a blackout not premeditated act???

I was calling BS that he didn't know the 'girl' was a dude long before they confirmed it in the report. I was saying, "there's no way he didn't know." and then 10 minutes later they said he knew.

Mercedes still looked like a biological boy. There’s no way that his killer didn’t know.

Of course people should be honest about their gender and all that, especially before starting a sexual relationship, but this case def doesn't seem like one of those cases. Mercedes' gender was pretty evident and the piles of gay porn on this guy's phone proves he's into men. Mercedes didn't deserve what happened to her. No one deserves that.

"She was a strong woman" Well, that's a dude...

I once dated someone who was named after a car , and if you ever see someone out there named Pinto you should stay far away 😊.

Crime Watch Daily reporters (except Chris Hansen) must be in the best shape of their lives, cause they're ALWAYS running to get an interview, which they NEVER get!!!

Idk what’s worst, her being a minor and the parents knew about him, murdering someone because you like transwomen and afraid of being judged, but now everybody knows AND your life is gone too. Humans are beyond comprehensive smh

Correction, there was no "she" involved in this story.

There’s NO way he didn’t know Mercedes was a boy. Secondly, this guy is nearly 30 and the family said nothing?! And he “seemed nice” 😒 omg…

Josh is faking it all in the interrogation room. You can hear him faking his voice. Wants them to feel bad for him.

If you're a Trans, be truthful about who you are. Be up straightforward. 😮

It should be illegal for a trans person to engage in sexual activity with a non-trans, without telling them 1st, it should be treated in the same way as rape.

This is why I don’t do secret relationships if it can’t be in public and around people then I don’t want it , yes I’m shy but I open up after a while so no excuses lol

He’s gay and has been fighting it, so he killed to suppress his homosexual feelings.

This is why the trans community needs to disclose what they have between the legs to their partners. Obviously if the Trans Teen was truthful the relationship never would have happened and he/she would still be alive.

And Mercedes looks like a guy so there’s no way he didn’t know

The gang will still be waiting for him in prison so he didn't accomplish keeping this a secret

This killer's father is a decent human being. In so many of these stories parents try to cover up. I am always amazed by that. I love my kids but the most they MIGHT get from me if they commit crimes is some pocket money for commissary.

Mercedes's aunt is precious, more people should be like her. She just wants everyone to be happy.

As a trans woman, I understand the motivations of some trans women for dating heterosexual or closeted men, but it is just something that I would never do. I would never enter into a relationship with anyone who had to hide the fact that I was trans from the people in their life. Whether they are heterosexual or openly bi makes no difference to me as long as they are not ashamed of dating a trans woman. I would never put myself in a situation like this, simply for safety reasons. If my partner feels the need to hide my status from all the people in their life for any reason, that is an automatic deal breaker for me. While I don't tell people that do not need to know about my status, people that are involved in my partner's life on a daily basis do not fall into that category. If the people in my partner's life are so unwilling to accept me that they are unable to even tell them, then I will take myself out of that environment. I will not have any type of intimate contact with someone until I have been fully introduced to the people in their life.

The guy said " I am not a traitor. " As being a traitor is worse than being a murderer.

Y'all keep saying SHE SHE SHE. THATS A BOY

*The intro to Crime Watch Daily of the reporters running up on people, That's how you get shot😳😁*

This first story is sickening. This happens a lot that people don't know about. If you're not up front with your gender this does happen and much worse. Lots of folks don't play when it comes to that. Not sure why Michael wasn't honest to begin with. Then dating somebody that's old enough to be your daddy.!

Her family said that she was honest, but didn’t tell that man that she was born male also. Like come on, folks need to openly honest like my lil sister was, this why so many trans-women, and trans-men are being murdered now. We need to put an end to this, like nobody or any gender shouldn’t be find murdered. Like I feel sorry for the family, and also angry also cause they let a minor get involved with a grown ass.

People are so stupid... "lets make a gang with it's own rules because the man sucks".... gives the same rules to themselves. (no drugs, no stealing, no fighting, no treason, etc) We already figured that one out forever ago that's why people form countries and enact laws.

There's not a cold day in hell, that a high ranking 'club' member offers that info voluntarily. Trust me. And his actions, reflect he may not have had a 'street life'

Mercades you mean MIKE goons

He aint do nothing wrong. That was a boy tricking men out there.

I always saying 20 something year old has nothing to do with a teen. My daughter just turned 18 and her boyfriend just turned 17 they've been together a couple of years and I am so happy for this. Adult mentalities should stay with adult mentalaties.

White guy named Josh is a latin king? 😂

He’s a Latin King? Start the white smoke I’m the Pope! 🤦‍♂️😂

2:22 tricking str8 guys to fullfill a pervyy fantasy is not goals bae

He definitely already knew she was transgender. The saddest part is that he killed her not bc of the Latin Kings, probably more for the guilt he felt as a closeted man who couldnt come to terms with himself and his sexual preferences. Thats the only reason you kill someone up close and personal like that. Sad story for sure.

That guy was either blind or he just didn't care. How the hell can you not tell??

A toxic relationship in Mississippi. What are the odds?

Omg the trans girl totally looked like a guy. How could no one see that?

Really? “How did a murder end up a federal crime?” What fucking country doesn’t have murder illegal

Parents, stop letting your minors date full-grown adults, even if it's normalized to you because you did it. Mercedes shouldn't have even been dating a 27-year-old man with her parent's blessing. SMH

I work for a staffing agency and this guy was working for us at a shipyard in AL a few weeks prior to this incident. He was in my office frequently. Super creepy dude.

Did he say beautiful 😅😂😂😂😂😂😂🤢🤮

The Josh guy is a complete fool telling everything to the police, even stuff they would have never known about, and then getting one of the harshest sentences imaginable. The more you cooperate the more they screw you. Keep your mouth shut and make them beg for it.

But Rex Heurmemann is in custody for murder on 4 of them… soooo I’m confused

*"We were kissing & groping & i felt something that wasn't supposed to be there" Perhaps Mr Hankey 😆*

"She was a man." What?

It in no way justifies crazy dude's violence but Mercedes was not a woman.

Say you didn't watch the video without saying you didn't watch the video: "...This is why you should disclose your gender etc..." the guy KNEW!

When he said "I'm affiliated" I could not help but laugh.... Who gives a shit anyway. And likely untrue.

“She” is a strong word.

Parents who cared only enough to benefit them. What the F, who is so remissive towards their teenager being intimately involved with a man 10 years older than them!?

“It wasn’t the person I thought it was.” He’s already distancing himself from Mercedes as a human being.

He knew he was dating a man.

It's a shame that a law has to tell men not to date children.

I don't know how you could let your son date a 27 yo and in your own home at that. What on earth?

I had to look up the age of consent in Mississippi cause no one seemed to be batting an eye at Mercedes' age, and sure enough it's 16. It's utterly disgusting and disturbing to me how a whole 27 year old man would find a child, sexually attractive. Insane how everyone is so nonchalant about it, but I get that technically its legal.

You can tell a mile off that Mercedes was male. It's so obvious. That guy knew as well and it was his 'inner shame' that drove him to do what he did. He'll never admit to that though.

“Elizabeth Smart with crime watch daily” Iconic asf

High ranking latin king gang member took me out!!!!!

I have a brother who knew Mercedes and it’s so heartbreaking plz be nice in the comments yall can be cruel and heartless there are ppl hurting still

I asked. " HIM" I said " do you feel comfortable?" "HE said yeah ".

You allowed a 27 year old date your 17 year old and now she's dead cause no one seen this as a problem 😳🤦🏽‍♀️🦗

And the parents were responsible at all? 17 and 27?! so many different delusions happening in one situation

The family failed the child long before he was seeing a 27 year old and thinking he was girl.

The case is tragic but the phrase "penis panic" is hilarious

Well now that he's in prison he can have a buffet of trans women he wants and can be completely open about it. Or will the kings in prison get him?

This guy is full of it. I know exactly what happend in this case. Josh’s gang had found out what he had been up to. Josh was called in. An ultimatum was laid out infront of him. He was told that he had disrespected the club and that he had two options. Either you off this dude and move out of the city or we will off you. That’s it.

If a grown person wants to be a girl or a guy it's there choice but not a choice a child should be able to be made

After saying she, she, she, then you say, " and I ask him. I said," Do you feel comfortable he said yes." You are as confused just like the individual himself.

killing us unacceptable, first of all. But this is what I also says as a trans myself, please please sisters please let the other person know you are dating or talking too. It is just right for them to know. If its ok with them great, if not, a better person is for you who accepts you for who and what you are. I'm saying this so no one feels betrayed. And to prevent this killing from happening. I know we are fighting for our rights to be accepted, but let's also not forget about other rights as well. It's a human right to know first your gender identity when talking/dating before doing the sexual thing. Because some are ok with it and are not. It's all about respect. Praying for mercedes soul and may she rest in peace. And hope this doesnt happen anymore to anyone. Praying strength for her family during this hard time. ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

Truly my condolences to the family. HOWEVER, the person looked trans from a mile away. He couldn't tell? GTFOH! There are masculine looking women, but you can usually still tell that they're natural. This doesn't apply here.

Spoiler alert! Not a her!!

You would know that Mercedes is a male. This doesn’t make sense that he didn’t know. He was ashamed or something. This is just horrible.

I can see a guy getting upset when he's been fooled and lied to. But this was a months long relationship. I figure he knew his girlfriend was packing a surprise.

This dude is not a Latin king lol good luck to him in jail! Crazy to think that people are still so concerned with who sleeps with who

Being trans myself, I understand the desire to pass and live in anonymity. Mercedes was fortunate enough to be able to pass as genetically female, so I understand that desire for acceptance. At the same time, I get extremely angry at transwomen that choose to date heterosexual men without disclosing their status beforehand. We cannot expect to be accepted and respected if we are not willing to show that respect in return. Passable transwomen that choose to deceive heterosexual men make life more dangerous for all of us, as it does nothing but increase the ignorance and hatred that surrounds us. As much as I hate being trans, I also cannot escape the fact that that is what I am. Even if I was able to disguise my status successfully, I would never consider entering any type of intimate relationship with someone who was not aware of it. That is just wrong. If we choose to date heterosexual men, then we have a responsibility to disclose our status before any intimate contact occurs.

So...HE was dating an older dude that looked like an obvious POS and everyone was just fine with it?!

Its scary how so many people see others as disposable 😢

He had an Adams apple and he couldn’t tell…Everyone else could tell and see it….

You gotta tell people if your trans you can avoid this, If they don’t love you for you then there not for you!

I feel bad for all men who get trigged by these DUDES smh

This didn't make no National headlines around the world this case just make National headlines in Mississippi and america.

He couldn’t take the fact that he was gay.