Transgender Woman in Political Scandal Murdered

A Brazilian transgender woman wrapped in a political scandal that took down a senior Italian politician was found burned to death in her home Friday.

The woman, known only by her first name of Brenda, was at the center of a blackmail case involving the former governor of the Lazio region, which includes Rome. Former governor Piero Marrazzo was secretly filmed having sex and using drugs with transgender prostitutes.

Neither Marrazzo nor Brenda and the other prostitute involved faced any charges, as prostitution is legal in Italy, but the governor nevertheless resigned in October. He had held the office since 2005.

On Friday, according to Reuters, Brenda was found burned to death at her home.

"Police found a body following a fire in a basement flat in a neighborhood frequented by transsexual prostitutes and court sources said magistrates were treating the death as murder," reported Reuters. "Forensic tests were expected to identify the remains as those of a transsexual known only as Brenda, police said."

Brenda had called the police 12 days earlier and reported that she was attacked in the street and her mobile phone was stolen.