Transgender Prostitute's Death Investigated as Possible Homicide

[PHILADELPHIA, PA] - The man found dead last week at 16th and Chestnut had fatal head injuries. Police are investigating.

The death of a male prostitute whose battered body was found last week on a Center City street corner is being investigated as a possible homicide, police said yesterday.

Robert Morris, 47, of the 5000 block of Walnut Street, was found early Dec. 22 lying on the street at 16th and Chestnut Streets with fatal head injuries.

Morris, who was dressed as a woman, was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he died the next day.

The city's Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy and determined on Dec. 25 that Morris died from "blunt head trauma," but there is no ruling yet as to whether the case was a homicide.

Morris' death is still listed in police records as a "hospital case," meaning police transported him to the hospital for medical care but did not identify his injury as the result of a crime. One homicide detective said Morris could have suffered the injuries from a fall.

According to police, Morris had a long history of arrests for prostitution but was always released and went back to the streets.

Investigators were scheduled to conduct predawn interviews today in the area, in the hope of finding someone with information about Morris' death.

Police said anyone with information about the case is asked to call the homicide unit at .