An Ohio man has been sentenced to 25 to 29 years in prison for the killing of beloved LGBTQ+ Trans advocate Laura Schueler. Nineteen-year-old Ajani Grimes accepted a plea deal for involuntary manslaughter, nearly a year after Schueler’s body was found near her home in Cincinnati’s Evanston neighborhood on June 6, 2025. Prosecutors said Grimes invited Schueler into his car before she attempted to flee. He then allegedly shot her in the back of the head and left her at the scene.
At the time of the killing, Grimes was reportedly out on bond in connection with a previous armed robbery case. During sentencing, family and friends described the lasting impact of Schueler’s death. Her husband said the sentence was not enough, while her best friend, Martez Meadows, told the court, “whatever you do behind closed doors is going to come to the light… The last thing I want to say is I hope you rot in hell.” Loved ones remembered Schueler as a compassionate advocate for the queer community.
