Community Unites to Find Jax Gratton, Missing Since April

Volunteers gathered at Sloan’s Lake on May 9th to search for Jax Gratton.

By Giles Clasen

Despite a coordinated effort last weekend at Sloan’s Lake, the search for Jax Gratton, a trans woman missing in Denver since April, ended without new leads. Another search will take place this Saturday.

Jax’s mother, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis, said she is grateful to everyone who has helped spread the word of Gratton’s disappearance and helped with the search.

"I'm scared to death, and I need to keep people looking out for her and watching for her," Gratton-Camis said.

Gratton’s last known location was near Federal and Colfax. She was wearing a striped shirt and velour pants. Gratton is known for regularly changing her hair color.

Because Gratton has changed her hair so frequently, Gratton-Camis suggested watching out for Gratton’s tattoos.

Gratton has an abstract single-line drawing on one arm, a crosshatch drawing with shaded triangles on the other, a pair of scissors on her left upper thigh, and the phrase, “What destroys me nourishes me & what nourishes me destroys me,” tattooed down the back side of her leg.

Gratton also has an Italian phrase tattooed prominently across her chest that translates to “Family is forever,” with stars beneath the words.

Vinny Haugen, a senior park ranger with Denver Parks and Recreation, volunteered for the May 10 search. For Haugen, the effort to find Gratton is deeply personal.

“Any kind of LGBTQ issues that arise within the park system is very personal to me,” they said. “As a queer individual, I understand all of the nuances of existing in this world in which we're often told we aren't wanted. And I think it's really important to show up and show out and say, 'You are wanted. We want you here.'”

Haugen said they are frustrated to see the media and right-leaning politicians regularly portray the trans community as likely to perpetrate a crime when the data shows the trans community is more likely to be the victims of crime.

Haugen said they have experienced a change in the way individuals treat them in the past year, as rhetoric aimed at the trans and LGBTQ+ communities has become more vitriolic and violent.

"If people are really trying to get under my skin, they'll pull out something that they think will hurt me, and that's generally a slur or something of that nature," Haugen said. "Right now, there's an aura of more hatred and more slurs than in the past."

Haugen said they aren't surprised by the personal attacks, even though park rangers are part of law enforcement. Haugen is grateful for the support they receive from their supervisors and the Denver Parks and Recreation Department.

Gratton-Camis described her daughter as someone who lived boldly and advocated for others. She said Gratton would venture into homeless encampments, scissors in hand, to offer haircuts to individuals who may not be able to afford one.

“Jax is an unbelievable advocate for all things. Color, race, women, gay, transgender, immigrants, and homeless individuals. She just fights for all of it,” Gratton-Camis said.

Gratton-Camis said the uncertainty surrounding her daughter’s disappearance has been harrowing.

“Something happened to my daughter and I'm actually hoping she's in a drug house. I'm hoping that she had a mental breakdown and is walking the streets and is in a homeless encampment because the alternative is way too scary.”

Currently, there is no evidence that Gratton has turned to drugs or is experiencing a mental health crisis.

So far, Gratton has not accessed her bank account or other resources, Gratton-Camis said.

She’s called hospitals, morgues, and police stations looking for Gratton.

“She's a tall, beautiful, transgender woman. And I think every single time she walked out of the house, she was a target. And she lived her life. She was always the brightest and biggest and full-of-life person in the room,” Gratton-Camis said.

Community members plan to resume their search this Saturday at a location that will be announced later this week. Individuals interested in helping with the search can join the Facebook group “Find Jax Gratton Denver” for more information.

Gratton’s family continues to urge the public to report any information or sightings to the Denver Police Department. Tips can also be emailed to brotherkenunity@gmail.com.