In this episode I interview Dr. TJ Payne, an independent investigator investigating the unsolved murder of 21-year-old trans man Poe Black that happened in Slab City. So far Payne has talked to family and friends and even traveled to the Slab City area to conduct interviews. Poe Black was a young artist who came to Slab City from Tennessee, seeking community and refuge, arriving at the Flamingo camp that is home to queer folk in Slab City. So far, it is unclear how much Poe’s murder was investigated by local police, but pretty clear that it has been lacking. This story stood out to me not only because I lived in Slab City myself, but because it highlights the harm that already marginalized people can face, and the lack of justice that is a system wide issue. Payne is doing the work to make sure that Poe isn’t forgotten and hopefully finds justice. We talk about the investigation, the wider issues it highlights, and what ethical true crime is.
You can read the writings of Dr. TJ Payne at their Substack Personally Curious where they have written about the investigation as well as writing about psychology and personality disorders, and more. You can DONATE to the investigation by following this link:
Investigation Into the Unsolved Murder of Poe Black | Fundraising by Fractured Atlas
