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The Slab City Murders: 15 Chilling Details You Need to Know

In the Salton Trough area of the Sonoran Desert, in Imperial County, California is Slab City which is also known as The Slabs. This is a location which is hosts off-the-grid individuals who are seeking an alternative lifestyle away from normal society. The name Slab City came from the remains of concrete slabs after the World War II Marine Corps Camp Dunlap training was brought down.

The transient community who seek freedom and a community of their kind seek homage in Slab City. The crime rate in Slab City has been high due to the unemployment of residents who tend to engage in activities like petty theft, drug trafficking/use, and homicides.

On 11^th May 2021, the body of a 21-year-old transient Poe Delwyn Black was pulled from a canal north of Slab City. The people who discovered the body thought that it was a man who had drowned, but an autopsy revealed different results. Poe had been stabbed multiple times including in his genitals with his murder remaining unsolved.

Here are the 15 Chilling Details You Need to Know about the Slab City Murders:

1. The Victim was a 21-year-old Male

Photo by Faruk Tokluo臒lu:

The victim of the Slab City murder was a 21-year-old male known as Poe Delwyn Black. Poe was a popular trans man in his Slab City community in many ways.

He was of the Wyandot Native American tribe who had moved to Slab City from Nashville. A woman who had spoken to him before his death revealed that; 鈥渉e really identified more as a two-spirit, trans man. He was indigenous and had the right to claim two-spirit identity.鈥�

Read Mary Morris Murders: 10 Horrifying Things To Know.

2. Poe Used to Live in a Van While in Slab City

Around 16^th December 2020, Poe Delwyn Black moved away from his home in Nashville with his destination being Slab City. Being an area where people live in various types of accommodation, Poe also had his own preferred home. He used to live in his van while on Slab City until he was murdered.

3. He had Moved to Slab City & Lived with his Partner

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Poe Delwyn Black had decided to leave his home and the people close to him. However, he did not move to Slab City alone.

A close friend of Poe revealed that he had moved to Slab City with his male partner. 鈥淗e left Nashville around December 16, 2020. He went with his partner, who I won鈥檛 name for their privacy. They arrived in the Slabs sometime at the end of December or the beginning of January,鈥� his high school friend stated.

4. Poe Had Undergone an Elective 鈥淭op鈥� Surgery

Poe was a unique person who had a top personality in everything he engaged in. Before he left Nashville, Poe had undergone an important procedure in his life.

It is believed that he had engaged himself in more progressive causes of his life鈥檚 transition. He had undergone elective 鈥渢op鈥� surgery before he left Tennessee for Slab City.

5. He was a Strong Activist who was Involved in LGBTQ Activism Too

, , via Wikimedia Commons

Other than being a trans man, Poe involved himself in multiple things while living in Slab City. He was a strong activist who also engaged in LGBTQ activism.

His friend had stated that 鈥淗e was a strong activist, he was very involved in multiple Black Lives Matter protests and shed blood, sweat, and tears for the cause (in the most literal sense, this happened right before my eyes),鈥�

She concluded by stating, 鈥淗e was also very involved in LGBTQ activism. When he began staying out in the Slabs, he had the goal of trying to help increase access to resources/supplies for trans people living in the Slabs.鈥�

Read Did 鈥淒iary of a Wimpy Kid鈥� Actor Murder his Mom? 10 Facts to Know.

6. Poe had Gone Missing For A Few Days

Before the discovery of Poe鈥檚 death, something unusual had happened. His unnamed partner revealed that he had gone missing for a few days. The search for Poe Delwyn Black had proven to be futile.

7. The Body was Discovered Floating in a Swift-moving Canal

, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On Tuesday 11^th May, the body of Poe was discovered a few days after he had gone missing. Two Coachella Valley Water District employees made the discovery of the body of Poe in the swift-moving canal.

The body was floating in the area around Siphon 9. It was discovered more than a mile northwest of Slab City in the location known as East Jesus.

8. Poe鈥檚 Body was Attached to A Rope to Prevent it from Sinking

After making the discovery of the body of the man who was yet to be identified and later identified as Poe, the workers had to stay at the location until the police arrived. It seemed like the body had stayed afloat for several days and was in the process of sinking.

The two workers had to use a rope to tie on the body of Poe and hold onto it to prevent possible sinking. They waited patiently for the investigators to arrive at the scene to retrieve the body.

9. Another Man Had Drowned in the Same Location Where Poe鈥檚 Body was Disposed Of

The location where the body of Poe had been disposed of is thought to be a dangerous place. This canal serves as the main tributary to the Colorado River water that serves several purposes.

Several people have drowned in this location with the recent being another man who had jumped into the canal four weeks before the discovery of Poe鈥檚 body. He had jumped in to rescue his dog which led to his death. His body was recovered a few days later downstream.

10. Poe鈥檚 Body Had Began Decomposing When It Was Discovered

Photo by cottonbro studio:

The investigators arrived at the scene where the body of Poe was discovered and got retrieved. As investigations began, more mysteries began being revealed by the coroner.

The heat of Slab City plus the water where the body had been retrieved from made it difficult for some investigations. The body was believed to have been several days old and had started decomposing as per the coroner who was making the investigations.

Also, read 15 Chilling Facts About the Coweta County Murders.

11. Drowning was the Initial Conclusion by the Coroner

The state in which the body of Poe Delwyn Black was found to be was so confusing to the investigators too. Thorough investigations were conducted but the initial conclusion by the coroner and investigators was not conclusive at the moment.

It was believed that Poe Delwyn Black had died through drowning in the canal in Slab City. However, drowning was ruled out a few days later as the investigations intensified.

12. Stab Wounds Were Discovered on the Body After A Week

, , via Wikimedia Commons

The investigators and the coroner were not sure about what case they were dealing with during their initial approach to the case. Drowning was one of their suspicions but this was ruled out later.

About four to seven days later after the body was pulled out of the water, investigators came to discover that they were dealing with a homicide. Stab wounds on the body of Poe Delwyn were discovered after an autopsy was carried out in San Diego County.

13. Poe Had Multiple Stab Wounds in His Genital Area

After the discovery that they were dealing with a homicide case, intensive investigations were made on the body of Poe. Close of Poe revealed some shocking details of the gruesome murder of Poe. They revealed that he had multiple stab wounds with some being inflicted on his genital area.

14. Partner of Poe Went Missing Amid His Murder Investigations

As authorities continued with their investigations, they discovered that the partner of Poe who is yet to be identified was missing. The police believe that the perpetrator who is known as 鈥楰nives鈥� left Slab City with the partner of Poe.

Benavidez, an investigator, explained, 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for any information on the person from the Slabs whose name is 鈥楰nives鈥� who apparently left with the domestic partner, and (we鈥檙e) just trying to get any information as to a name on that subject.鈥�

15. The Slab City Murder of Poe Remains Unsolved

There has been much pressure from the Slab City community and friends of the murdered man on the authorities on the stalled investigations. The murder case remains to be unsolved as the leads that were available got exhausted.

The Slab City murder continues to be a mystery but the minority groups, the LGBTQ and transgender have been pressured for more investigations. Poe鈥檚 family is also seeking justice for their kin.

Read The Tragic Story of the Lester Street Murders: 15 Facts You Need to Know.