Man arrested, charged with murder in connection with transgender woman's death, records show

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Nearly a month after a transgender woman's body was found in southwest Houston, records show an arrest has been made in her case.

For weeks, questions have surrounded the death of 33-year-old Persia Amarra Conway. Her body was found on May 25 in the 8900 block of Country Creek.

The video above is from a previous report.

On Thursday, records show 22-year-old Daniel Ceron was charged with murder in connection with Conway's death.

Conway's body was found by a park walker who was on the trail. An autopsy revealed Conway suffered multiple blunt force trauma.

According to court documents, Ceron allegedly beat Conway to death with his hands. In addition, video captured Ceron getting rid of physical evidence, which was then found to be a cell phone, a pair of slippers, and pieces of acrylic nails. Footage then shows him walking away from the scene, according to documents.

Records state that a woman called authorities, stating Ceron confessed to the murder.

In addition, documents state Ceron was also wanted on a burglary case in Fort Bend County, in which he allegedly stole from an AutoZone where he was working. One of the items also found at the scene was an AutoZone name tag with the name "Trinity C," which, according to the documents, was Ceron's preferred name.

Records show Ceron was arrested Wednesday evening and booked into Harris County Jail overnight.

Additional details on how Ceron and Conway knew each other or what led to the incident were not immediately released.

ABC13 reached Conway's mother at her home in Georgia.

"When I started focusing on the video and the photo, I was like, 'Oh My God, guys, this is the same guy I gave to HPD last week," Michelle Simmons said. "I know a lot of people will be like, 'Well, how did you get it?' Well, we were doing our own hood investigation, if that's what you want to call it."

Simmons said people started sending her photos and videos of a man who looks like Ceron, which she passed on to the police.

"One particular individual sent me two photos of this young man and a video, and in the video, he was literally saying and confessing to the murder two days before," she said. "The young lady said, 'Mama Michelle, I believe this guy has something to do with Persia's death.'"

Police have not revealed a motive in the murder.

"I've had death threats in my inbox," she said. "My words to them is that I pray that you're never in the situation that I am in."