This story has been updated to reflect Sarina Mihailoff’s pronouns.
Sarina Mihailoff, a Massachusetts trans person, was found dead in their Center City hotel room this week. As of presstime, the cause and manner of their death hadn’t been released by the medical examiner’s officer.
Mihailoff, 37, lived in Pittsfield, Mass. and was visiting Philadelphia to attend a Jan. 23 political forum in Kensington on behalf of presidential candidate Jasmine Sherman.
The following morning, their unresponsive body was found by Sherman and another friend inside a hotel room they were sharing.
Mihailoff’s body was found around 5:44 a.m. Jan. 24 on the 40th floor of W Philadelphia, a hotel at 1439 Chestnut Street in Center City.
Mihailoff, Sherman and the other hotel-room occupant were scheduled to depart the room later that day.
Sources said Mihailoff sustained a fall at the political forum and may have suffered a delayed reaction from their fall. After the event, they returned to their hotel room, washed up and went to bed.
When Sherman and the other occupant awoke the following morning, they discovered Mihailoff unresponsive on the floor, sources said.
Sources said a small amount of blood was found on a pillow next to Mihailoff’s body. There is no allegation of foul play.
Philadelphia police released this narrative of the incident:
“On Wednesday, Jan, 24, 2024, at 5:47 a.m., police responded to the 1400 block of Chestnut Street for a hospital case. A 37-year-old white female was located inside the property unresponsive. A Philadelphia Fire Department Medic Unit pronounced the female dead at 5:50 a.m. The deceased was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office. The investigation is being handled by Central Detectives. The Medical Examiner’s Office determines the cause of death and that has not been disclosed.”
In an email, a friend of Mihailoff said they were a disability-rights activist. Additionally, they worked as an audio engineer and parented a child. Moreover, Mihailoff was an avid supporter of Sherman’s presidential run. “They literally put their life into [the campaign],” the friend wrote.
As of Jan. 31, a spokesperson for the Medical Examiner’s Office said there was no determination regarding the cause and/or manner of Mihailoff’s death.