2 charged in transgender prostitute's murder at Rockville Red Roof Inn hotel

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Two people from Washington, D.C., have been charged with stabbing a transgender woman to death at the Red Roof Inn in Rockville last month.

On Tuesday, Montgomery County police arrested 17-year-old Arbra Arnie Bethea and 21-year-old Keith Christopher Renier for first-degree murder of 22-year-old Keyonna Blakeney.

Bethea and Renier were also charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit armed robbery. Bethea has been charged as an adult.

Police said first responders responded to the Red Roof Inn located in the 16000 block of Shady Grove Road on April 16 at around 11:49 a.m. and found Blakeney dead with trauma to the upper body. According to investigators, it was discovered that the victim had identified herself as a transgender female named Keyonna.

Investigators said Blakeney and several acquaintances were renting rooms at the hotel to engage in prostitution. The victim was stabbed multiple times during a confrontation with the two suspects in her hotel room.

Both suspects are in custody in D.C. and are awaiting extradition to Montgomery County.