Tallahassee, Florida: Steven Yinger, 38, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his roommate, Jorge Diaz-Johnston, an activist for LGBTQ+ rights. Yinger was found guilty of strangling Diaz-Johnston to death in January 2022, before disposing of his body in a rubbish bin. The bin was then collected and taken to a landfill site in Baker, where Diaz-Johnston’s body was discovered.

The victim, Jorge Diaz-Johnston, was a prominent figure in the fight for marriage equality in Florida, having been part of a group that successfully sued the Miami-Dade County Clerk’s Office for denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Diaz-Johnston allowed Yinger to move into his apartment after Yinger was released from prison in October 2021, but asked him to leave in January 2022 after allowing an addict to stay in the apartment and property went missing.

After murdering Diaz-Johnston, Yinger used the victim’s bank cards to withdraw cash and make purchases, including a $45 Chicago Bulls hat, which he wore during an interview with police. He also stole Diaz-Johnston’s vehicle, phone, and television.

During the trial, Assistant State Attorney Adrian Mood described how Diaz-Johnston was “treated like a piece of garbage,” reflecting the shock and horror of the crime. Diaz-Johnston’s husband, Don, spoke at the trial, expressing the kindness and generosity that Jorge had shown to his killer, only to be betrayed in the end.

Diaz-Johnston’s disappearance was reported by his husband and a friend when he failed to show up for work, ultimately leading to the discovery of his body. Yinger has been condemned to a life behind bars for his heinous actions, as justice is served for the beloved LGBTQ+ activist.