Cops ID "Person on Interest" in Transgender Slaying
Thursday, Jan 7, 2010 | Updated 2:43 PM PDT
A 24-year-old man was being sought Thursday as a "person of interest" in the murder of a transgender person in east Hollywood, according to police.
Paulina Ibarra was found dead on the floor of her apartment at 939 N. Mariposa Ave. around 8 p.m. Aug. 28, and police were asking the public's help to locate Jesus Catalan regarding her murder, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
A suspect, or suspects, apparently entered Ibarra's home, "engaged in a physical confrontation, resulting in the victim being stabbed to death," police said.
The murder is being investigated as a hate crime, said Officer Sara Faden.
Police believe Catalan -- also known as Brian Nanes or Luis Santiago -- was at the scene of the crime, and was being sought as a person of interest.
Catalan is Hispanic, 5 feet 9 inches tall and 140 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and a tattoo on his upper right arm. A parolee at large, Catalan is considered armed and dangerous, police said. Police believe he is homeless and frequents the Hollywood and West Hollywood areas.
Anyone with information regarding Ibarra's murder or the whereabouts of Catalan was asked to call Rampart Dets. Michael Arteaga or Chris Linscomb at 213-484-3650 or 1-877-LAPD-24-7.
