The Case of CeCe McDonald — When Self-Defense Became a Crime

In this episode of Black True Crime, host Kayla welcomes guests Terri Lomax and Dr. Dominique Broussard (co-hosts of Cultivating H.E.R. Space) to discuss the harrowing case of CeCe McDonald — a case that sits at the intersection of race, gender identity, and self-defense law.

Who Is CeCe McDonald?

Born May 26, 1989, in South Chicago, CeCe McDonald is a Black trans woman whose childhood was marked by rejection and abuse. Bullied for being more feminine from an early age, she was ostracized by her own family and sexually abused by an uncle. At just 14 years old, she fled home and became homeless, surviving through sex work and drug sales while living in Boystown, one of Chicago's historic LGBTQIA+ neighborhoods.

Despite these hardships — including years of suicidal ideation — CeCe persevered. By 2011, at age 23, her life had turned a corner: she had stable housing, was studying fashion design, and had built a supportive community of friends.

The Attack

On June 5, 2011, CeCe and four friends were walking to a 24-hour grocery store near their home when they passed the Schooner Tavern. There, Dean Schmitz, his girlfriend Jenny Thorson, and his ex-girlfriend Molly Flaherty hurled racist and homophobic slurs at the group. As CeCe and her friends tried to walk away, Molly smashed a glass into CeCe's face, requiring 11 stitches. Witnesses confirmed Molly threw the first punch, escalating into a group altercation.

Dean then pursued CeCe individually into the street. In the ensuing struggle, CeCe stabbed Dean once in the chest with a pair of scissors, piercing his heart. He died en route to the hospital. CeCe initially flagged down police and explained what happened, though her account later shifted — she claimed she'd first taken the blame to protect a friend, a claim corroborated by two witnesses.

The Trial — and a Deeply Flawed Judge

CeCe was charged with second-degree murder. Her defense argued clear self-defense, citing Dean's history: over 24 prior criminal charges, three prior assault convictions (including domestic assault), drug use the night of the incident, and a swastika tattoo on his chest.

Judge Daniel Moreno ruled nearly all of this evidence inadmissible — Dean's assault history, his drug use, and even expert testimony on violence against trans people were barred from trial. He also banned "Free CeCe" shirts from the courtroom, while allowing CeCe's unrelated prior conviction for writing bad checks to be admitted.

The case sparked national outrage. The #FreeCeCe campaign drew support from figures like Laverne Cox, and a petition gathered over 18,000 signatures demanding her charges be dropped.

The Plea Deal

Facing a judge stacked against her and the possibility of decades in prison, CeCe accepted a plea deal: her second-degree murder charge was reduced to second-degree manslaughter, in exchange for dropping her self-defense claim. On May 2, 2012, she received a 41-month sentence and was ordered to pay $6,500 toward Dean's funeral costs.

Despite advocacy from her own legal counsel, CeCe — a trans woman — was housed exclusively in men's facilities, spending much of her sentence in protective custody/segregation. She ultimately served 19 of the 41 months.

Molly Flaherty, meanwhile, was charged with second- and third-degree assault and served just six months in jail.

Life After Prison

Freed in January 2014, CeCe has since become a prominent voice for trans liberation and prison abolition, speaking at colleges and universities across the country. She remains close with high-profile supporters like Laverne Cox and continues to thrive today.

The Hosts' Takeaway

Throughout the episode, Kayla, Terri, and Dr. Dom repeatedly return to one point: CeCe acted to survive a hate-fueled attack, yet the justice system treated her — not her attackers — as the primary threat. As Kayla puts it: "If that man would've just left her alone, none of this would've happened."

Listen to the full episode of Black True Crime for all the details, and don't forget to check out Terri Lomax and Dr. Dominique Broussard's podcast, Cultivating H.E.R. Space.