Who Is Ally Steinfeld? Transgender Teen's Body Found In Missouri, Housemates Charged

A fourth person was charged Monday in the death of a Houston transgender teenager, whose burned and mutilated body was found in southern Missouri earlier this month.

According to reports, 17-year-old Ally Steinfeld — whose real name was Joseph Matthew Steinfeld — had her genitals stabbed and her eyes gouged out before her burnt remains were put in a plastic bag and dumped in a chicken coop near a Cabool mobile home in early September.

Prior to her body being found, Steinfeld was not seen for weeks and her family reported her missing on Sept.14.

Last Thursday, three people were charged in the murder case. Andrew Vrba and Isis Schauer, both 18-year-old Houston residents, were charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse; Briana Calderas, 24, of Cabool, was charged with first-degree murder and abandonment of a corpse, Houston Herald reported.

On Monday, James Grigsby, was charged with abandonment of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

According to reports, police are dismissing the possibility of the murder being a hate crime, possibly motivated by Steinfeld’s gender identity.

The victim’s sister, Ashleigh Boswell, told Springfield News-Leader that the family wasn't sure if Steinfeld’s gender identity played a role in her death.

However, a close family friend, Linda Camara, told the Kansas City Star she believed Steinfeld’s gender identity played a role in the killing.

“I still don’t know who in their right minds would do something like that,” said Camara. “Killing someone is very bad, but I mean to do it ... oh my God, to do it like that. Just ... I ... I ... oh, God. I just can’t even see someone doing that.”

Steinfeld had earlier revealed on social media accounts that she was a transgender. “I coming out I am mtf,” she said, mtf standing for male-to-female. In another post in June, Steinfeld referred to herself as "Trans male to female and I am mostly lesbian but pansexual."

Her sister said she had talked to the family about being transgender, and possibly having gender-reassignment surgery one day.

She added that Steinfeld was "a very loving, outgoing person" who "didn't like conflict whatsoever."

According to New York Daily News, Steinfeld’s mother, Amber Steinfeld, revealed that her daughter, who was previously engaged to a woman, was dating and living with Calderas, along with Vrba and Schauer.

According to Kansas Star, Vrba admitted to stabbing Steinfeld in the living room of Caldera’s house. He revealed that he tried to poison her initially, but when she refused to drink the liquid, “he used a knife instead.”

Court documents revealed Grigsby’s role: “Grigsby stated that Vrba told him he had tortured and killed Steinfeld and that Calderas had asked for his (Grigsby’s) assistance with disposing of the remains.”

The fourth suspect also admitted to burning Steinfeld’s body and hiding the remains. The suspects are in jail and being held without bond.

Meanwhile, condolences poured in for the teen on Facebook.

“Rest in peace. May the community unite together and never allow this act to be committed against another human being again. This was a hate crime and they should be charged with much more. Prayers and much love,” one person wrote.