New York : Rashawn Brazel

Written By Navigating Advocacy Podcast

Photo: New York Daily Mail

Brooklyn, New York, is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located on the western end of Long Island. It's known for its rich cultural diversity, vibrant neighborhoods, and historic landmarks. Brooklyn is incredibly diverse, with residents from all over the world. Its neighborhoods, cultural events, and culinary scene reflect this diversity. You can find communities representing nearly every ethnicity and culture. Each neighborhood in Brooklyn has its distinct character, from the trendy streets of Williamsburg and the artistic vibe of Bushwick to the historic brownstones of Park Slope and the scenic waterfront of DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). The crime rate is 14 out of 100. The chances of being a victim of a violent crime are one in 146. Even though this sounds like an amazing place to live in 2005, the residents were facing something out of a movie when dismembered body parts were found in the subway tunnels and around the borough of Brooklyn. That is why we are navigating advocacy in Brooklyn, New York, this week. 


Rashawn Brazell was born in April 1986, and he was described as an outgoing and upbeat young man. One that loved everyone and would help anyone who needed it. He loved to cook for his friends and family and was an aspiring fashion designer when he became a victim of one of the most heinous crimes I have ever researched. I have read some awful things after doing this for over three years. Rashawn was 19 years old on Valentine's Day 2005. Initial reports stated that he was leaving his house to meet up with someone for a date, but as time passed, there was zero evidence that was happening. You see, Rashawn was a member of the LBGTQ+ community as a bisexual man, so of course, the local newspapers wanted to paint him in a negative light, saying things like Brooklyn teen was to meet a man in a tryst now missing, or headlines like hacked up teen or chopped up victim. His family and friends would say that there was zero media coverage of Rashawn’s disappearance and then subsequent murder, even though it was one of the most gruesome the area had seen. Besides the few initial newspaper articles, Reshawn’s case went almost unnoticed by the public. 

Let’s get into what we know happened that day. Desiree, Reshawn’s mom, said the last time she saw her son, who she says was her best friend, was Monday, February 14th, in the morning. At 7:30 am, an unknown person rang the apartment building's security buzzer, and Rashawn went down to meet him. The two would then enter the subway station at Gates Avenue. There are reports of where the two men got off the station, but that has not been confirmed. Rashawn was supposed to meet his accountant about the upcoming tax season, find some places to drop off the resumes that he took with him that day, and then meet his mom for lunch; however, he would never make it to either of those appointments. 

His mom didn't worry too much about the missing lunch date or him not coming home that night because Rashawn was an outgoing 19-year-old who would get so caught up in hanging out that he wouldn't realize the time and would end up sleeping at a friend's house. But by Wednesday, with no word from her son and best friend, she called to file a missing person’s report at the local police station. On Thursday, February 17th, just three days after Rashawn went missing, his torso, legs, and one arm were found inside trash bags in an A-line subway tunnel between the Nostrand Avenue and Franklin Avenue stations. They were found near an emergency exit between the southbound tracks and the tunnel wall. Along with the body parts, a black and beige tool bag with tools and the word Rooster on it had Rashawn’s blood was found a few feet away. This bag would be law enforcement's first lead because it was one of only 15 made; I guess it was a prototype sold exclusively to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in 2001. So, given the location of the remains found and this bag, it really pointed towards the killer being someone who was associated with the subway system in some way or at least familiar with the subway tunnels. 

On February 23rd and the 24th, more pieces of Rashawn were found. This time, his other arms and hands were found at the Humboldt Street recycling plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This set of remains was also found inside trash bags. Based on how the remains were found, authorities were able to determine that the person who did this to this vibrant young man knew anatomy. This person made precision cuts. They also believe that this person used an industrial-grade saw to commit this awful crime. Rashawn’s head would never be found. John Walsh from America Most Wanted said this was the most gruesome crime in the city's history. 



Photo: Wikipedia

In 2017, when everyone thought this case was cold, there was finally a break in the case. A man by the name of Kwauhuru Govan was charged and convicted of the 2004 murder of Sharabia Thomas, a 17-year-old girl that he kidnapped, strangled, and then put into two laundry bags and thrown into an alleyway. I read his motive for this was because he wanted to try out some type of sex toy invention. Authorities found DNA of Goven under Sharabia’s fingernails, and because Goven had previously been arrested down in Florida, his DNA was on file.  Her younger sister stated, “My sister fought for her life, And if it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have solved this case.”

This sorry excuse of a man actually stated during his sentencing hearing while asking the judge for leniency because he knew what it was like to lose family, speaking of his cousin Rashawn, who he was on trial for murdering. Yes, Goven was convicted of killing this young girl right at the same time he was charged with Rashawn’s murder. Apparently, Govan was a religious man, a Jehovah's Witness, and believed being gay was an abomination. He lived across the street from Rashawn and his mom and was either a cousin or one of those people who were so close with the family that they referred to each other as cousins. However, he would tell police that he didnt know Rashawn or his mom or literally anyone in the family, which was proven to be a lie. He had even been over to Rashawn's apartment before, so the fact that he told authorities that he didn't know Rashawn was very weird. On top of that, when police questioned him about Rashawn’s murder, Goven gave evasive and false statements, which led police to look into him more. He also went to Rashawn’s funeral and signed the guest book. It was very weird for a person who was against the LGBTQ+ community and the fact that he said he didnt know Rashawn. This is basically the only information they put out about why authorities were zeroing in on Govan. I would assume they had more, considering they actually charged him. I did read in a New York Post article that they linked Govan’s DNA to Rashawn’s murder. However, I feel like if they had DNA, they would have gotten a conviction, and we know we only cover unsolved cases here on navigating advocacy. During one of the initial hearings for Govan, he had to be dragged in, kicking and screaming, “They’re framing me for murder! I can’t even dissect a frog!” Authorities also believe that the bag with the word rooster was one of only 15 made and was thought to belong to Govan. Somehow, with all this information, the case against Govan doesn't get far. The DA felt like there was not enough evidence and did not want to take the chance that he would be found not guilty. Also, considering Govan was already sentenced to 25 years to life for the other teenager's murder, he wouldn't be out roaming the streets for a long time, but it still doesn't help this grieving mother get all of her son back or justice for his murder. 

Since Rashawn’s murder, a scholarship memorial was started aimed at providing a sustainable tribute to Rashawn Brazell. Each year it was awarded, they encouraged a new wave of New York City high school students to reflect upon Brazell¹s's legacy of selfless service and think critically about the impact of intolerance and violence on their communities. I don't believe the memorial scholarship fund is still active, but this goes to show that Rashawn’s mother was a true advocate and tried everything to keep her son’s name in the media, which was beyond difficult. If it wasn't for activists and bloggers in the New York City community, Rashawns case might not be where it is today. One of these bloggers stated I’m over sitting around waiting for white people to tell Black people’s stories and for straight people to tell gay people’s stories . . . We have to create a space where we can tell our own stories.” said  Chas Brack. 

The NYPD asks that anyone with information about the murder of Rashawn Brazell contact  (718) 636-6611 or 1-800-577-TIPS. All calls can be kept confidential.


Navigating Advocacy Podcast

Whitney and Melissa, hosts of Navigating Advocacy, blend their true crime interests with a mission to spark justice through storytelling, inspiring action, and building a community of advocates.

https://www.navigatingadvocacy.com
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