The man accused of murdering Nikki Kuhnhausen last year in her hometown of Vancouver, Washington, is now facing hate crime charges.
David Bogdanov, 25, has been charged with malicious harassment, a Washington State hate crime, Fox 12 Oregon reports.
HRC Mourns Nikki Kuhnhausen, 17-Year-Old Trans Girl Murdered in Washington https://t.co/DiYhbvt7Qo pic.twitter.com/2UPqSabqWH
— Northern Resistance Media (@nrmediadotorg) December 28, 2019
Bogdanov appeared in Clark County Court Thursday morning for a bail hearing. He was already facing second-degree murder charges.
Kuhnhausen’s remains were found in December after a six-month search that had her family and friends in a panic. Her mother, Lisa Woods, implored local residents to help her find the missing teen.
Kuhnhausen’s stepfather, sister and mother Lisa Woods, from left, along with NWCAVE cofounder Michelle Bart, speak to the media outside the #Clarkwa courthouse. Bart said justice was not served for Nikki today. pic.twitter.com/rhI4ldFkUf
— Jerzy Shedlock (@jerzyms) January 2, 2020
The Vancouver Police Department told NewNowNext in a statement that Kuhnhausen and Bogdanov had been chatting on Snapchat before meeting up on June 5.
Bogdonov told police that after the two had a conflict, he told her to get out of his van.
HAPPENING NOW: We’re in Clark County court for the bail hearing of David Bogdanov. He’s accused of killing Nikki Kuhnhausen in June 2019 after finding out she was biologically a male. Prosecutors want case tried as a hate crime. @KATUNews #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/MuVrUK0Z5k
— Evan Schreiber (@SchreiberEvan) January 2, 2020
“Bogdonov stated Nikki walked away and he never saw her after that,” police said.
But an analysis of Bogdonov’s phone placed him on June 6 in the remote area of Larch Mountain where Kunhhausen’s body was found, police say. They believe he strangled her after learning the high school student was transgender.
“My beautiful baby girl is gone,” Woods wrote on her Facebook. “God please help me.”
Activists filled the courtroom Thursday and asked that Bogdonov be held without bail. He was ultimately ordered held on $750,000 bail.