TOPEKA ― Police are investigating the possible suicide of an Oklahoma City homicide suspect after a standoff in the "Mott House," a symbol of visibility, love and support for the transgender community.
Around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, officers with the Topeka Police Department went to the 1200 block of SW Orleans to take a man into custody after being notified that he was wanted in connection with an Oklahoma City homicide, according to a news release.
Daniel Garrett, communications director for Topeka's city government, said the man had barricaded himself inside a home. Law enforcement entered the home about 4 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, and found the person dead, Garrett said, adding that police were investigating the death as a possible suicide.
Oklahoma City police said the deceased person was Carlos Slaughter, 51, whom they had been seeking in connection with the recent homicide of Kellie Slaughter, 45.
As previously reported by The Oklahoman, firefighters were called about 7:20 a.m. July 24 to a house in southwest Oklahoma City, which had smoke coming out of it. Most of the fire was contained to the garage, though the rest of the house saw some smoke damage.
After extinguishing the flames, firefighters found Kellie Slaughter in critical condition in a bedroom, according to OKC Fire Capt. John Chenoweth. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead soon after arrival.
Related: Woman's death in southwest OKC fire is now being investigated as a homicide
Kellie Slaughter was found to have suffered "injuries consistent with homicide," OKC police said, adding that the cause of the fire hadn't been determined.
Sgt. Dillon Quirk, a spokesman for the Oklahoma City Police Department, told The Oklahoman that Carlos and Kellie Slaughter were related "domestically." OKC police are now leading the investigation, with Topeka police also investigating Carlos Slaughter's cause of death and the FBI assisting.
Yellow crime scene tape could be seen July 30 surrounding the house at 1204 SW Orleans, just south of the rainbow-colored Equality House at 1200 SW Orleans, which has been owned since 2012 by the nonprofit group Planting Peace. Both buildings are just east of Westboro Baptist Church, 3701 SW 12th, which is known for the anti-homosexual protests its members have conducted since 1991.
Equality House is the headquarters of Planting Peace, which described the Mott House on its website as being "a symbol of visibility, love and support for the transgender community."
The Planting Peace website said the Mott House is part of the Equality House property, was painted the colors of the transgender flag in 2016 and was renamed the Mott House in 2019 to honor Kansas transgender activist Stephanie Mott, who died earlier that year.
Visit Topeka, the city's official destination marketing organization, issued a statement July 30 on its Facebook page expressing compassion for those affected by the death following the standoff.
Visit Topeka recognizes the incident has had an emotional impact on many, its president Sean Dixon said in the statement.
"Together with the Equality House, this space has long served as a visible symbol of love and inclusion in Topeka," Dixon said. "Each year, thousands of visitors stop to leave messages of support on the Equality House wall. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we remain committed to supporting the people and places that foster understanding and unity in our community."
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Suspect in Oklahoma homicide dies at Topeka transgender support house
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