TDoR 2004 / 2003 / December / 07 / Reshae McCauley


Reshae McCauley

Age 30

7 Dec 2003
Largo, Florida (USA)
Stabbed

TDoR list ref: tdor.info/7 Dec 2003/Reshae McCauley

Reshae McCauley
Reshae McCauley [photo: slideplayer.com]

Reshae died from severe upper body trauma after being stabbed by a man she took home from a club.

William McHenry, 37, was sentenced to life in prison for her murder.

LARGO-A Largo man who stabbed a transgender [woman] to death after the two left a Clearwater nightclub together was sentenced Monday to life in prison.

William McHenry, 37, left Club 2109 with [deadname] McCauley on the night of Dec. 6. 2003, and went to McCauley's home, 1701 Valencia Drive, Largo. There, authorities said, McHenry stabbed McCauley to death.

McCauley, 30, spent [her] days working as a unit secretary at Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater. At night, [she] frequented Club 2109 dressed as a woman named Reshae. The chub caters to a gay and transgender clientele.

Law enforcement had considered the murder a possible hate crime, said Largo police Chief Lester Aradi. Monday's sentencing brought relief to those who were involved with the case.

"This was a particularly heinous crime and a very traumatic one for the victim," Aradi said. Kim McCauley, Lucas' mother, found her [daughter] dead the next night in the living room of [her] apartment, which was next door to her home.

McHenry, who at the time was living with a 55-year-old female companion, was arrested and charged with murder within days of the slaying. After a four-day trial that started earlier this month, jurors found McHenry guilty.

Pinellas-Panco Circuit Judge DeeAnna Farnell sentenced McHenry.

The murder sparked fear in the gay and transgender community. Shortly after the crime, Equality Florida, a gay advocacy organization, held a vigil for McCauley.

"With this particular case being brought William to justice, it is certainly a step in the right direction," said Brian Winfield, communications director for Equality Florida. "It's good to see that at least in some cases, justice is served."

https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-murder-of-transgender-wo/74470643/

https://slideplayer.com/slide/4176328/13/images/7/Reshae+McCauley+Location%3A+Largo%2C+Florida+Cause+of+Death%3A+Severe+upper+body+trauma+Date+of+Death%3A+December+7%2C+2003.jpg

Report added: 21 Sep 2025

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