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The sister of slain Brooklyn transgender woman Eryka Caldwell shared further details about the relationship between Caldwell and her alleged killer, Jonathan Fernandez, saying that their relationship had previously led Caldwell to seek help in domestic violence shelters.

While speaking to the New York Post, Caldwell’s sister, identified only as Contessa, spoke about a string of Fernandez’s arrests, including for robbery, burglary, theft of service, and an alleged assault of Caldwell in 2024. Them could not independently confirm these prior incidents, which the Post attributes to sources within law enforcement. Local outlet News 12 Brooklyn also reported that police had previously responded to domestic dispute calls between Fernandez and Caldwell.

“He was arrested in January, and then it was two more incidents,” Caldwell’s sister said. “I don’t know if he was arrested for them, but I know it was two more incidents where police had to come to the scene and it was domestic violence.”

Contessa said her sister never confided in her family about the abuse, which she noted led Caldwell to stay in a shelter this January.

“When it came to her relationships, if it was abusive or anything, she didn’t allow me to know,” Contessa said. “I just wish she would have reached out for help or told somebody in code or something. Like, what was going on, so she could have gotten the help or somebody could have come down there.”

“He did not get locked up,” she added. “They moved her to two different shelters. After he got arrested, he still found her, I don’t know how that went.”

Caldwell, 41, was stabbed to death in her apartment in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick on Sunday morning. Police arrested Fernandez, 38, on the scene. He was arraigned on charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon on Tuesday.

Caldwell yelled for help while she was being stabbed, according to prosecutors. Police climbed in through a window and found Fernandez sitting calmly on the couch while Caldwell was dying on the floor, per The Post. Fernandez’s next court date is May 22, per public records and his bail has been remanded, meaning he cannot be released. Prosecutors added that Fernandez has claimed self-defense, saying that Caldwell swung at him first.

Caldwell had moved into her Bushwick apartment in March, but had been unable to keep Fernandez out of her home, per the Post.

Upon news of Caldwell’s death, several notable LGBTQ+ celebrities and organizations paid remembrance to her and spoke about the violence that trans women of color often face in their romantic relationships.

“Sending our condolences, prayers, and love to her family and to everyone impacted by this devastating tragedy,” the Human Rights Campaign wrote in a comment underneath Them’s original Instagram post about Caldwell’s death. “Holding space for all those grieving during such an incredibly difficult time.”

Just a few days before Caldwell’s death, the New York City Anti-Violence Project reported that there had been five killings of trans people nationwide just in the months of March and April 2026.

Contessa told the Post that her sister always saw the good in people.

“If there was just a monster or evil, she still tried to find the smallest good in that person,” she said. “And this time, [there] just was no good for her to find or her to fix.”

Caldwell described herself as a “lover of everything sappy & mushy” in her Instagram bio and frequently shared upbeat captions on her social media.