The Death of Daniel Yakovleff

Update: Gintautas Dumcius at the Dorchester Reporter was also early to the Yakovleff story and covers the reaction in the Tuttle Street neighborhood where Yakovleff died.

While police have asked for assistance in finding the killer of Daniel Yakovleff, the city's gay community is understandably concerned, the Globe reports. Yakovleff, who was a stylist at Liquid Hair, was out and may have been targeted for his sexual orientation. The incident has galvanized gay activists, who say that harassment against gay people is on the rise in Boston.

Bay Windows has an excellent piece tracing events up to this moment. Yakovleff had been stabbed to death in a Dorchester apartment in which he did not live. Through his lawyer, the owner of the apartment claims his innocence and was the one who called police. Yakovleff's family is wondering if the BPD is doing enough to solve the case:

[Yakovleff's brother] said his parents traveled to Boston to identify Yakovleff’s body and have spoken with the police, but they are concerned that Boston Police are not giving the investigation the attention it deserves. He said that they worry that because Yakovleff was a young gay man who was active in the bar scene that police will not take his murder seriously.

Yakovleff was last seen at the Eagle on January 16 and was found dead the next day. Queer Today also has a memorial.

The story-within-a-story is that the murder was under-reported for days. Yakovleff's death happened during a spike in gang crime and didn't get the attention that it merited since his death is such a mystery. Bostonist first saw the story on when Universal Hub posted a link to the Hartford Courant. Not all murders get the same amount of coverage, and media coverage doesn't mean the killer will be found, but maybe, for once, the spotlight will help police find Yakovleff's killer.

All charges alleged until proven under law. Image from a memorial to Yakovleff on legacy.com.