Home

Amancio's Story

Remembrances

News Articles

Vigils

About Hate

Guest Book & Calendar

Victim's of Violent Crimes

Affiliates

Plea Agreement and Case History

"Amancio Corrales Act"

Documentary Production Shots

Tragic happening
May 19, 2005 Echo Magazine Volume 16, Number 18
By Ted Rybka

Amancio Corrales, 23, who performed as a female impersonator under the Name Delilah, was found murdered in the Colorado River near Yuma on May 6.

Responding to a call of a possible body in the Colorado River, deputies Of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office discovered Corrales' body at 7am, 500 yards west of Paradise Cove.

Paradise Cove has a boat ramp and picnic area and is located near a park. But the cove is federal land and has been closed for a number of years.

When contacted about the murder, Captain Eben Bratcher of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office declined comment, citing that the investigation is still ongoing. However, the Yuma Sun is reporting that the murder most likely took place sometime on Friday, May 6, between midnight and the early morning hours.

The Yuma Sun also quoted Major Leon Wilmot of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office as saying, "We can't specifically release (what killed him), but It was from violent trauma."

Corrales was a former resident of Phoenix and performed locally at Paco Paco Club at 3045 N. 16th St. According to friend Juan Jimenez, Corrales had recently moved back to Yuma and was living with his parents. Corrales was expected to perform the night of May 6 at Paco Paco Club. Jimenez said that Corrales was very funny and humble.

"I once told him he was the best performer at Paco Paco," recalls Jimenez. "Amancio just smiled sweetly and said, 'I do my best.'"

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office is encouraging anyone who may have seen or knows the whereabouts of Corrales during the night of May 5 and the early morning of May 6. Anyone with information should call Detective Raul Garcia at 928-783-4427. http://www.yumacountysheriff.org/PR2005-34.htm
Reprinted with permission of ACE Publishing Inc Copyright © 2005

YUMA DAILY SUN

Family pleased with support at Mass to honor Corrales

BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, June 6, 2005

Deeply saddened a month ago, the family of Amancio Corrales was heartened Sunday night by the support shown at a Mass to honor him.

Corrales, 23, of Yuma was found killed May 6 in the Colorado River — a possible victim of a hate crime, according to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

"They're all sentimental," she said. "They're actually happy right now that everyone came."

Fabiola said people came from Phoenix and other areas beyond Yuma to honor the memory of her brother. "It was more than we expected," she said.

YCSO, which is investigating the murder, has said that Corrales was wearing women's clothing when he was found submerged in shallow water about 500 feet west of Paradise Cove, just west of Yuma's Joe Henry Park.

According to information from the Arizona Leadership Institute, Corrales was a gay man who performed as a female impersonator under the name Delilah. He was born in Sinaloa, Mexico, and was a cosmetologist.

ALI is one of the agencies in the Amancio Project, a coalition of concerned groups that want to honor his memory and bring attention to the crime.

Michael Baughman, the local coordinator for the Amancio Project and liaison to the Corrales family, said he was pleased with the turnout at the Mass.

The next event for the project is a vigil in Corrales' memory, which is scheduled for June 25 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Madison River Park, located at Madison Avenue north of 1st Street.

The family and friends of Corrales were wearing diamond angel pins on their shirts as a visual reminder. Erick Renteria of Yuma, a friend of Corrales', said that Sunday night Corrales' grandmother gave everyone the pins. He said they will be wearing them every day in his memory.

Renteria said the past month, without one of his best friends, has been tough. "I still expect him to call or pop up," he said.

The Mass offered some closure and spiritual guidance for those who were affected by the murder, Renteria said. In addition to the vigil, the next thing that those who knew Corrales would like to see is consequences for those responsible.

"We want to find justice for whoever did it," Renteria said.

Father Bernardo Iniesta celebrated the Mass, which was in Spanish. He said that the Mass was celebrated in the normal manner, but prayers for Corrales and his family were included.

"We ask that God forgives his sins and allows him to share in the glory of God," he said. "And we pray for the family for comfort."

Groups involved with the Amancio Project include Yuma County Gay Rights Meetup Group, United Church of Christ of Yuma, ALI, Arizona Human Rights Fund (AHRF), Wingspan and Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA). A Web site is in the works.

YCSO continues to look for witnesses who may have seen Corrales or who he was with May 5. Corrales was said to have been dressed as a female at one or more local bars that night.

At vigil, advocates, family remember slain gay man

Many speak out against hate crimes

Brent Whiting

The Arizona Republic

Aug. 7, 2005 12:00 AM

It's been three months since Amancio Corrales, 23, a gay man and female impersonator, was murdered near Yuma.

Since then the unsolved case has become a rallying cause for gay rights advocates throughout Arizona.

Many believe that Corrales was the victim of a hate crime, although investigators decline to label it as such.

On Saturday evening, nearly 100 gay rights advocates, Corrales family supporters and others gathered at the Arizona Capitol for a candlelight vigil to honor the victim's memory.

Some carried signs saying, "Stop Hate Crimes!" and "Hate is NOT a Family Value."

"We don't know if this is a hate crime," said state Sen. Robert Cannell, D-Yuma, who attended the event along with Corrales' mother and sister.

"But if it was a hate crime, it's tragic," Cannell added. "We hope that the perpetrator will be bought to justice."

Fabiola Corrales, 19, said she hopes her brother's violent death will help end discrimination against gay people. His mother, Maribel, declined to comment on her son's death.

The vigil was intended, among other things, to help support the Corrales family, said Amy Kobeta, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Human Rights Fund & Foundation, one of several gay rights advocacy groups represented there.

Also, it was aimed to push for adoption of federal legislation now before the U.S. House and Senate, Kobeta said.

There are two pending bills that would give the FBI and other agencies more authority in dealing with hate crimes.

Specifically, they would expand the law to include violent crimes based on gender identity, thus allowing the FBI to track transgender violence, according to the National Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Centers, a lobbying group based in Washington, D.C., and Garden Grove, Calif.

Two separate bills, now before the judiciary committee of each house of Congress, were introduced May 26 by Massachusetts lawmakers, a week after transgender lobbyists blanketed Capitol Hill.

The House bill has 133 co-sponsors, including Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz. The Senate measure has 44 co-sponsors, none of them from Arizona.

In 1997, then-Gov. Fife Symington signed an Arizona hate-crimes bill that gave judges discretion to serve up harsher sentences for people found guilty of committing crimes motivated by hate.

As for Corrales, he worked as a cosmetologist but also performed as a female under the stage name Dalila, impersonating famous singers.

His body was found May 6 in shallow water of the Colorado River near Yuma after what investigators believe was some bar hopping with friends.

The cause of death has been listed as violent trauma. He was dressed as a female when the body was discovered.

Whether the murder was a hate crime is something for prosecutors and the courts to sort out, said Capt. Eben Bratcher, a spokesman for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

"We are investigating this as a homicide," Bratcher said. "Our obligation is to the victim's family, not to special-interest groups that may have an agenda of their own."

In the meantime, investigators are following up every lead received in the unsolved case, but none have come to fruition so far, Bratcher said.

Sheriff's deputies join with others in hoping the killer will be caught, Bratcher said.

Reach the reporter at brent.whiting@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6937.

The smallest, seemingly insignificant detail could end up making the difference in solving the nearly year-old murder of Amancio Corrales.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office says it's sure someone in the Yuma area has information in the murder of the 23-year-old Yuma man and they're appealing to that person to come forward to help close the case.

Corrales, a gay man and a female impersonator, was found dead in the Colorado River near Paradise Cove on May 6 in what sheriff's investigators suspect was a hate crime.

His body was found after Corrales was seen with others in at least two area bars, the last of which they left shortly before closing time, Capt. Eben Bratcher said.

"We know they were at Manske's and then went to Ron's Place, and those people he left Ron's Place with were the last people he was seen alive with," Bratcher said.

Investigators are taking a fresh look at all previously obtained tips, witness statements and evidence in hopes of getting a break in the case, Bratcher said, but what would help is for the public to submit any new information.

"We haven't had anyone call in with anything new in some time, and that's unfortunate because we know there are people out there who know things."

It may be that people hesitated to call in tips because they think the information they have is inconsequential or irrelevant to the investigation, "but we need to be the judge of that," Bratcher said.

"Of particular importance, who did he leave the bar with, what were they driving, what were their names — that kind of stuff," Bratcher added.

"Even if they have heard people talking after the fact about (the murder), what did they hear?" he said. "One person's small bit of information may corroborate another person's small bit of information, and it may potentially be the key in breaking this case open."

Anyone with information about the murder is asked to contact sheriff's Detective Raul Garcia, 783-4427.

In the wake of Corrales' murder, a coalition of concerned groups came together as the Amancio Project to honor his memory and call attention to the killing.

Michael Baughman, Yuma coordinator for the project, said the project and Corrales' family are frustrated by lack of progress in the investigation but remain hopeful of a resolution of the case.

The Amancio Project has created a Web site — www.theamancioproject.org — which on Monday, stated, "346 days since the murder. Crime is still unsolved!"

© Yuma Daily Sun

GRAVESIDE MEMORIAL REMEMBERS GAY MURDER VICTIM
OIA Newsdesk

PHOENIX – A graveside prayer vigil and memorial will be held in remembrance of the first anniversary of the murder of Amancio Corrales, May 6, 5-6:30 p.m., Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S. First Ave.

Amancio Corrales, a 23-year-old gay man who performed as a female impersonator under the name Dalila, was found murdered in the Colorado River near Yuma, Arizona on May 6, 2005. He died from what has been publicly described by authorities as "violent trauma." The murder has not been solved and the authorities have no leads.

In response to this incident, local organizers in the GLBT community joined with members of the immediate family and close friends of Amancio to develop a strategy to address the issues and concerns resulting from this violent crime. [5/4/06]

Arrest made in '05 slaying of gay man

Sarah Muench

The Arizona Republic

May. 25, 2007 12:00 AM

After two years, authorities believe they have solved the murder of a female impersonator from the Valley who was brutally killed in Yuma.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office arrested Ruben Solorio, 23, Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree homicide of Amancio Corrales after receiving an anonymous tip, authorities said.

"For two years I have said repeatedly that someone out there knew something and all it took was that one person to share that information with us, and that's what finally happened," said Capt. Eben Bratcher, a spokesman for the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

Corrales' body was found on May 6, 2005, in shallow water of the Colorado River near Yuma after what investigators believe was time spent bar-hopping with friends. Corrales, 23, was dressed as a woman when his body was discovered.

The cause of death has been listed as violent trauma, although requests made by The Arizona Republic to view a completed autopsy report have been denied.

Authorities have struggled for two years for a break in the investigation of a murder that rattled the state's gay community. Corrales' death also prompted the Amancio Project, a group that supports Corrales' family and brings attention to hate crimes and federal hate-crimes legislation that would include sexual orientation and gender issues. The group calls Corrales' death a "likely hate crime" on its Web site.

Corrales' death was not designated as a hate crime, and Bratcher said Thursday that authorities still decline to label it as such.

"At this point, I don't think it is (a hate crime)," Bratcher said. "I don't think he targeted Amancio because he was gay. The indications we are seeing at this point lead us to believe it was not a hate crime."

Corrales was a cosmetologist, but he also performed as a female under the stage name Dalila and impersonated famous singers. Corrales lived in Phoenix and performed at a local gay bar, Paco Paco, until the weekend he was killed - the same weekend he moved back to Yuma to live with his family.

Authorities do not believe Corrales and Solorio knew each other and are still working to determine if any others had a hand in his death. Bratcher said Thursday that Solorio is "no stranger to our custody."

Solorio, a Yuma resident, had been arrested multiple times from February 2002 to January on suspicion of multiple crimes, including aggravated assault, domestic violence, human smuggling, criminal damage and driving with a suspended license. His bond was set at $1 million.

Michael Baughman, a spokesman for the Corrales family and creator of the Amancio Project, said he and the family attended Solorio's initial appearance in court Thursday and Corrales' mother, Ana, had mixed feelings and "broke down in the courtroom," Baughman said.

Baughman said neither he nor the family could discuss the case but said "it was the efforts of the Amancio Project that brought (the anonymous caller) out."

Solorio case charges downgraded
 

BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER
June 1, 2007 - 10:58PM

A grand jury has downgraded the charge against the Yuma man being held in connection with the 2005 slaying of a female impersonator.

On Thursday afternoon, the grand jury returned a "no-bill" in the case of 23-year-old Ruben Solorio, who was formally charged on Monday with one count of second-degree murder in the death of Amancio Corrales.

A "no-bill" means the grand jury refused to indict Solorio on the charge the Yuma County Attorney's Office filed against him.

Instead, it returned a "true-bill," or indictment against Solorio, charging him with manslaughter and abandoning a body.

"It was our recommendation that the indictment be for second-degree murder," said Yuma County Attorney Jon Smith.

Corrales, a gay man who performed as a female impersonator known as Dalila, was found floating in the Colorado River on May 6, 2005, just west of Joe Henry Park, with multiple stab wounds.

Solorio was arrested May 23 at Express Lube, 1900 S. 4th Ave., where he had worked for the past three weeks.

Solorio's bond is $1 million.

In explaining how someone is charged with a crime, Smith said following the filing of a complaint and a defendant's initial appearance in court, the prosecutor's office has 48 hours to determine whether charges should be filed.

If prosecutors determine a case has merit and there is sufficient evidence to pursue a conviction, the county attorney's office will file charges in the case against a defendant.

At that point, Smith said probable cause to determine whether there is enough evidence to justify holding the defendant for trial on any charges will need to occur and that happens one of two ways, either through a preliminary hearing or by a grand jury.

In Solorio's case, it was through a grand jury, which is composed of a group of usually between nine and 16 citizens, who are selected randomly from the county's voter rolls.

"Sometimes, as in this case, charges are dismissed by the grand jury if it determines that there is insufficient evidence to justify a trial based upon a particular charges," Smith said.

While the grand jury in Solorio's case determined there wasn't enough evidence to try him based on second-degree murder charges, it did find sufficient evidence to justify a trial on the other two charges.

Smith added that if additional evidence is discovered at a later date, it is sometimes possible for the original charges to be refiled, even if they have been dismissed by the grand jury.

For now, the case is moving forward in the Superior Court based on the charges determined by the grand jury, Smith said.
---
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

Film crew in Yuma for documentary on Corrales murder

May 27, 2008 - 8:03PM

BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER

INDEPENDENT DOCUMENTARY filmmakers Stu Maddux (left) and Joe Murray discuss a shot while filming Tuesday at Gateway Park.

PHOTO BY RYAN BRENNECKE/THE SUN

Two independent documentary filmmakers are in Yuma this week to shoot film around town and conduct interviews as part of their documentary about the 2005 murder of a gay man in Yuma.

The film will feature Michael Baughman of Yuma and the Amancio Project, a campaign Baughman started to keep public attention focused on the murder of Amancio Corrales, said the director, T. Joe Murray.

Corrales' body was found on May 6, 2005, floating in shallow water about 500 feet west of Paradise Cove, just west of Joe Henry Park, with multiple stab wounds. He was dressed as a woman when his body was discovered. Authorities believe he had spent the night bar-hopping with friends.

Ruben Solorio, 23, of 2202 W. 17th St., was arrested in Corrales' killing and is scheduled to go on trial Aug. 6 on a charge of manslaughter in Yuma County Superior Court.

"I thought it made for an interesting story," Murray said. "I think with these types of stories, we read about them, but there is always something more to it."

Murray said he initially planned for the documentary to spotlight several groups and organizations across the country that responded to "hate crimes" within their communities against gays and lesbians, but changed his mind after an initial visit here earlier this year.

He said he was particularly intrigued by Baughman's involvement in the case and why he decided to form the Amancio Project.

"It's really about three very different cultures," said Murray, of Sarasota, Fla. "An older gay man, the Corrales family and their background, and the gay community."

He added, "the murder involved a young Hispanic male he had never met and he is not part of the Hispanic community."

Stu Maddox, of Los Angeles, will be filming and editing the documentary, which Murray said will eventually be shown in film festivals.

A 23-year-old gay man and cosmetologist, Corrales also performed as a female impersonator known as Dalila impersonating famous singers. Corrales lived in Phoenix and performed at a gay bar, Paco Paco, until the weekend he was killed - the same weekend he moved back to Yuma to live with his family.

Murray and Maddox will be in Yuma until Friday. They said they will travel to Phoenix on that day to speak to people Corrales knew there. Murray said they will return to Yuma later this year to finish up.

One thing Murray said he hopes his film brings out is how much love the Corrales family had for Amancio, despite that he was gay.

"His family remained loving and supportive of him," Murray said. "It's clear his death has been devastating and tragic to this family."

Yuma County sheriff's deputies arrested Solorio on May 23, 2007, at Express Lube, 1900 S. 4th Ave., where he had been working, in connection with the killing of Corrales. An anonymous written tip led to Solorio's arrest.

He was booked into Yuma County jail on one count of second-degree murder in Corrales' death, but a grand jury later indicted him on a charge of manslaughter, according to court records.

----
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

Man pleads guilty to attempted manslaughter of Amancio Corrales

July 22, 2008 - 6:15PM
BY WILLIAM ROLLER, SUN STAFF WRITER

The alleged murderer in the 2005 slaying of a gay man pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted manslaughter in agreement with prosecutors.

Ruben Solorio Valenzuela faces a prison sentence of 8-3/4 years if the agreement is accepted by Yuma County Superior Court Judge Andrew Gould.

Although Gould was not able to attend Tuesday, the plea agreement was presided over by Superior Court Judge Mark Wayne Reeves.

Reeves also said the suspect will be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for release.

Prosecutor Levi Gunderson acknowledged that Solorio Valenzuela did not plan the alleged murder but acted suddenly, in the heat of passion resulting from the rage and humiliation he felt when he discovered Corrales was actually a man.

Corrales, a 23-year-old gay man, was a cosmetologist who also performed as a female impersonator known as Dalila, impersonating celebrity singers.

Corrales was dressed as a woman the night he and Solorio Valenzuela met. After several attempts to fondle Corrales, Solorio Valenzuela realized his mistake and then allegedly stabbed Corrales.

Corrales' body was discovered on May 6, 2005, floating 500 feet west of Paradise Cove, just west of Joe Henry Park, with multiple stab wounds. He died from what authorities called "violent trauma."

Yuma County sheriff's deputies arrested Valenzuela on May 23, 2007, at Express Lube, 1900 S. 4th Ave., where he had been working. An anonymous written tip led to his arrest.

Subsequent investigation disclosed Solorio Valenzuela had confessed to family members soon after the murder. The day of the killing, he fled to Guadalajara, Mexico, for three months, according to court records.

Maribel Corrales, the victim's mother, briefly addressed the court Tuesday while trying to hold back sobs. Speaking through an interpreter, she said, "He didn't kill a person but a whole family. I don't agree (with the plea). It is not fair."

Solorio Valenzuela had been booked into Yuma County Jail on one count of second-degree murder, but a grand jury later indicted him on a charge of manslaughter and abandoning a body.

In exchange for the plea, the state suspends the original count. Solorio Valenzuela could be ordered to pay restitution of $150,000 as well as an additional 80 percent of that amount at his sentencing, Gunderson said.

---

William Roller can be reached at
wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858
 

Judge allows photography of sentencing in Corrales murder case

August 7, 2008

BY JAMES GILBERT, SUN STAFF WRITER

A judge has granted permission for The Sun to take photos of the upcoming sentencing of the Yuma man who has pleaded guilty in the 2005 slaying of a gay man, but has denied requests for a local TV station, Yumasun.com and a documentary film crew to film the proceedings.

Instead, in ruling on the media's request for coverage on Thursday, Superior Court Judge Andrew Gould decided that the county's television station, Yuma County government's cable Channel 77, will record the hearing and make the video of it available to Yumasun.com, KYMA Channel 11 and director T. Joe Murray, who is featuring the trial in an upcoming documentary.

Murray, who said he still planned on attending the sentencing hearing said he thought the ruling was accommodating and would work fine for his purpose.

"In some ways it may be better than I can do on my own," Murray said. "It should work as long as the technical quality is there."

Ruben Solorio Valenzuela pleaded guilty in July to the murder of 23-year-old Amancio Corrales, a gay man and cosmetologist who also performed as a female impersonator known as Dalila, impersonating celebrity singers.

Solorio Valenzuela is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21 at 1:30 p.m. Under the terms of his plea agreement he is facing a prison sentence of 8-3/4 years.

During a brief hearing held Thursday morning on the media's request for coverage, Gould asked the attorneys in the case for their thoughts on the matter.

Prosecutor Levi Gunderson said he had no position on the matter, but defense attorney Michael Donovan objected to having cameras in the courtroom saying he thought it would turn the hearing into a "media circus."

Yuma County Legislative and Public Affairs Director Kevin Tunell said the county's cable channel 77 launched its version of a court TV program last year for just these types of cases and is capable of meeting the court's order.

"We have said from the start that we would be airing cases on a case-by-case basis," Tunell said. "This certainly qualifies as a high-profile case so it is no surprise the court decided to put the hearing on court TV."

In January, channel 77's inaugural broadcast was the sentencing of a Rick Kosterow, who was convicted in the 1985 murder of a 65-year-old Yuma man.

"That is still one of the highest viewed programs in our Video On Demand section of the county's Web site," Tunell said.

Tunell explained that the courtroom is equipped with five computer-controlled cameras that automatically point to where someone is speaking and nine ultrasensitive voice-activated microphones.

In addition to being broadcast on Channel 77, Tunell said the sentencing hearing will also be simultaneously streamed on the county's Internet site.

The hearing will also be archived on www.yuma77.tv in the Video On Demand section of the county's Web site.

Corrales was dressed as a woman the night he and Solorio Valenzuela met at a local bar. After several attempts to fondle Corrales, Solorio Valenzuela realized his mistake and then allegedly stabbed Corrales.

Corrales' body was discovered on May 6, 2005, floating 500 feet west of Paradise Cove, just west of Joe Henry Park, with multiple stab wounds. He died from what authorities called "violent trauma."

Yuma County sheriff's deputies arrested Valenzuela on May 23, 2007, in the 1900 block of South 4th Avenue, where he had been working. An anonymous written tip led to his arrest.

Subsequent investigation disclosed Solorio Valenzuela had confessed to family members soon after the murder. The day of the killing, he fled to Guadalajara, Mexico, for three months, according to court records.

---

James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.

Amancio Project working to raise awareness of crime
BY JEFFREY GAUTREAUX, STAFF WRITER
Jun 2, 2005

A mass to honor Amancio Corrales, a Yuman murdered nearly a month ago in a possible hate crime, is scheduled for Sunday at 7 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

The mass is part of the work being done by the Amancio Project, a coalition of concerned groups that want to honor Corrales' memory and bring attention to the crime.

Michael Baughman, the local project coordinator and liaison to the Corrales family, said Corrales was "a well-known female impersonator in Arizona and Mexico; a faithful friend to all who knew him; a good brother to his family and known for his charity."

Corrales' body was found May 6 submerged in shallow water about 500 feet west of Paradise Cove, just west of Yuma's Joe Henry Park, according to the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

YCSO has said only that Corrales died as a result of "violent trauma." They have declined to describe his specific injuries.

The Amancio Project had its first meeting Friday to create committees and plan strategies. About 20 people attended, including Amancio's sister and five of his friends, Baughman said.

Sam Holdren, organizer for the Arizona Leadership Institute in Phoenix and the facilitator of the meeting in Yuma, said the priorities for the project are to ensure a proper investigation into Corrales' murder, ensure that if it was a hate crime it is investigated and prosecuted as such, and ensure that the family members know they have the support of the community.

Previously, Yuma County Sheriff's Capt. Eben Bratcher said Corrales' murder "lends itself" to being a hate crime.

The goal for ALI is to empower people in Yuma and work for justice for the victims of bias-motivated violence, Holdren said. "This is an act of violence, and violence is not acceptable," he said.

Baughman said the project hopes to dispel erroneous information that is circulating, much of it on the Internet. He said the rumors about the dismemberment of Corrales' body are false.

"The family didn't like the explosion of misinformation," he said.

According to information from ALI, Corrales, 23, was a gay man who performed as a female impersonator under the name Delilah. He was born in Sinaloa, Mexico, and was a cosmetologist.

Groups involved with the project include Yuma County Gay Rights Meetup Group, United Church of Christ of Yuma, ALI, Arizona Human Rights Fund (AHRF), Wingspan and Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA).

A vigil for Corrales is being planned for the end of June, Baughman said. A Web site is also in the works.

Bratcher said Tuesday that there was no new information to release about the investigation. He said YCSO continues to look for witnesses who may have seen Corrales or who he was with May 5.

YCSO has said Corrales was dressed as a female while at one or more local bars that night.

Bratcher said it was "a significant possibility" that Corrales left one of the bars with people who thought he was a woman.

Baughman said the Amancio Project is focused on helping Corrales' family. "Everything we're doing comes down to the family and what they want and their concerns," he said.

Jeffrey Gautreaux can be reached at
jgautreaux@yumasun.com or 539-6858.

© Copyright, YumaSun.com