The family of 19-year-old Oluwatoyin Salau, a woman who recently protested after the death of George Floyd, confirmed that the activist was found dead after being missing for more than a week.
Salau was one of two victims discovered Saturday night off Monday Road in southeast Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Police Department revealed to the Tallahassee Democrat on Monday. The 19-year-old was found a few miles from where she was last seen June 6 at a library off Orange Avenue and Wahnish Way. The other victim, Victoria “Vicki” Sims, had also been reported missing. Sims was a retired state worker and was well-known in her community for volunteering for local Democratic races.
“The deaths are being investigated as homicides and have been turned over to TPD’s Violent Crime Unit,” according to a police statement. “The investigation is ongoing and currently there are no more details available. More information will be released as the investigation progresses.”
Police identified Aaron Glee Jr., 49, as the suspect in both murders. Glee lives on Monday Road and had been arrested for violent offenses twice recently.
Salau, who went by the nickname Toyin, had tweeted about allegedly being sexually assaulted more than a week before she was found dead. She told her followers that a man had offered to give her a ride after a day of protesting. She had planned to get a ride to pick up her belongings from a nearby church, but she said she was sexually assaulted before making it to the church.
“I was molested in Tallahassee, Florida by a black man this morning at 5:30 on Richview and Park Ave,” she tweeted June 6. “He came disguised as a man of God and ended up picking me up from nearby Saxon Street. I entered his truck only because I carry anything to defend myself not even a phone (which is currently at the church) and I have poor vision. I trusted the holy spirit to keep me safe.”
Following her tweets, petitions were created to demand justice for the teenage activist. By Monday, #JusticeforToyin was trending from thousands of users mourning her death.
Danaya Hemphill, one of Salau’s close friends, told the Tallahassee Democrat she last saw her June 5 during a vigil at Leon Arms on Holton Street, where a suspect in a fatal stabbing, Tony McDade, was shot and killed by a Tallahassee police officer.
“We were all together one minute,” Hemphill said, “and the next minute our friend was gone.”
She was recorded in a video at a protest before her death speaking about McDade’s death.
WARNING: *The video includes strong language.*
Investigators are asking anyone with information about this case to please call them at 850-891-4200 or Crime Stoppers at 850-574-TIPS.
About the Author
