An Angel Goes To Heaven.

A trans woman we murdered down in Maryland.

Trans woman hosted a holiday dinner for those who were alone. Days later, she was killed.

USA Today

By Phaedra Trethan

January 7, 2024

Meghan Riley Lewis' typical signoff for emails, texts and other messages to friends reflected her own outlook on life: "Stay sparkly."

The Bel Air, Maryland, woman made it her mission to help people see their own sparkle, even when the outside world didn't. A transgender woman, Lewis donated time, money, food and love to Baltimore Safe Haven, the state's only full-service housing and wellness center for LGBTQ+ people.

"Meghan was sparkly," said Iya Dammons, Baltimore Safe Haven's founder and executive director and Lewis' friend. "She made sure our kids were able to have a Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, whatever they needed to smile. She was always sending over sparkly things."

Lewis even invited strangers into her home on Christmas Day, hoping to ease the pain of loneliness and loss felt by many during the holidays − including trans people who often feel alienated from friends, family and society.

But her sparkle was extinguished before the holidays were over. Lewis was fatally shot Dec. 27 after a confrontation, allegedly by a man delivering food in her neighborhood. Brian Michael Delen, 47, is facing murder, assault and weapons charges. He was released to home detention on GPS monitoring Dec. 29, according to court records and local news reports.

She was an angel who helped those less fortunate.

"This is true community love and kindness toward strangers," she said. "It's hard to spend Christmas alone and I think a lot of queer and trans people experience that as well. I was very touched by that, and how she offered to make Brazilian dishes. It provided me with the strength to be alone on Christmas Day."

Peace.