A man has been charged with the murder of popular Fijian transgender doctor and social media influencer Leighley Leli Darling.

The 32-year-old suspect was arrested on the island of Viti Levu near Suva, the capital of the South Pacific archipelago. Darling was found dead at home in a pool of blood on September 1.

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Widely acknowledged in Fiji as identifying as a woman, Darling nonetheless was adamant she was a “biological man.”

“I identify as a woman because deep in my soul, I am a woman. But I know I am a biological man and will never ever become a woman, even in my wildest dreams,” she told the Fiji Times earlier this year.

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The assertion accompanied full-throated support for the U.S. president’s crusade against transgender people in the United States.

“Science, truth, and common sense have confirmed for centuries of human existence that there are only two sexes — male and female,” Darling said in January, following Trump’s executive orders attacking “gender extremism and narcissism” in the federal government and American society at large.

“The sad and despicable reality of the past four years is that LGBTIQ activists lobbied for legal affirmation of their delusional claim and launched a concerted effort to force their ideology down society’s proverbial throat,” the late influencer said.

News coverage of Darling’s death in Fiji reflected her own ambivalence over the definition of transgender, with reporting that identified the 52-year-old general practitioner by her professional name, Dr. Isireli Biumaitotoya.

Both Darling’s mother and receptionist referred to the victim as male, as did Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, in a tribute after Darling’s death.

“I am deeply saddened by the untimely passing of the late Dr Isireli Biumaitotoya, a well-known Nadi-based medical doctor and social media influencer,” Rabuka said.

“This tragic situation is just very sad,” he added. “I recall attending a Human Rights Conference at Pacific Harbour with Dr Isireli. While a lot of people were uncomfortable with him, he made meaningful contributions to the discussions.”

Angylene Chandra, who worked as the doctor’s receptionist for more than 20 years, contacted police after the doctor didn’t show up for work. Unanswered calls indicated “something was wrong,” she said.

“The phone was ringing, but he’s not answering,” she said.

Chandra said she went to the doctor’s home, where she found the gate wide open. After repeated calls for the “Doc” went unanswered, “I just ran,” Chandra said. “I was feeling scared or something. I had that feeling.”

Police discovered Darling’s body soon after.

Darling’s mother, Mereani Bawa Kotoilevuka, described her son as caring, close to their family, and quick to help others in interviews with local media. She recalled their last Christmas together at the same home where he lost his life.

Loata Tucika, head of the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network, called Darling “a beloved member of our Pacific LGBTQI+ community.”

“Dr Leli lived her life openly and unapologetically, sharing her journey with courage and truth. Her passing is a painful reminder of the urgent need to end transphobia, protect our communities, and ensure justice and equality for all.”

“No one should feel unsafe or denied dignity because of who they are or how they live their lives,” she said.

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