Trans Man Murdered After Meeting Up With Online Suitor
WHNS, Promise Edwards, a family friend with whom Williamson had been living before his death, said that Williamson and Newton had chatted back and forth on Facebook for over a month before arranging to meet in person.The two men arranged to meet, with Newton agreeing to pick up Williamson at a Waffle House restaurant before going to Carowinds, an amusement park straddling the North Carolina-South Carolina border.According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Newton drove more than 100 miles from Monroe to Laurens — a roughly two-hour trip — to pick up Williamson for their date. But authorities say that Newton instead brought Williamson back to his residence in Monroe, where he had been living in a trailer, before killing the 18-year-old.Edwards said Williamson agreed to download the family locator safety app Life 360 so she could track Williamson’s phone, but she became concerned after Williamson’s location was turned off.