The Michigan-based Triangle foundation reports that they have learned of the death of Justin Bogdanik, of Grand Rapids, who may have died as a direct result of a vicious sexual assault. Bogdanik, 18, had been discovered in a ditch in Livingston County two weeks prior to his death on July 8. According to published reports, the victim had ‘been beaten until he was unconscious, sexually tortured, and his eyes were glued shut,’ reported the July 11 Ann Arbor News.
‘We are stunned at the extreme level of brutality and sadism in the attack of Justin Bogdanik,’ said Jeffrey Montgomery, Executive Director of Triangle Foundation, Michigan’s anti-violence and civil rights organization working for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. ‘Our deepest sympathy goes out to Justin’s family and friends and we are saddened at such a horrible death of a young man.
‘This incident, from what has been reported, bears all the markings of an anti-gay ‘pick-up’ crime, perpetrated by an extremely disturbed individual. We understand that police have not ruled out anti-gay motivation, which is important because it appears more than evident that, regardless of the actual sexual orientation of the victim, a perception that he was gay, or that gay sex was involved, is clear,’ said Montgomery.