When the renowned American drag artist Heklina was discovered deceased in a London apartment, her loved ones and supporters were left searching for explanations.
Nearly two years later, authorities have finally shared CCTV footage of three men who visited the 55-year-old’s residence on the night of her passing.
Those who were close to Heklina, whose real name was Steven Grygelko, are questioning why law enforcement took so long to call for public assistance while they remain in limbo regarding the details of her death.
Grygelko’s body was found in a Soho flat on April 3, 2023, by a friend and fellow drag performer Joshua Grannell, known as Peaches Christ. Grannell expressed his “outrage” over the Metropolitan police’s delay in releasing the CCTV and indicated that the mishandling of the case suggests a degree of homophobia.
“I believe this has led them to deprioritize the case and overlook it entirely. It feels as though we’re simply not significant enough to warrant their attention,” he remarked.
“They’re incompetent, and I now feel justified in calling out what seems to be homophobia, a notion I was hesitant to voice for too long while trying to give them the benefit of the doubt … Why have they not been able to inform us of how she died after all this time?”
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Grygelko was a cofounder of the iconic San Francisco drag event Trannyshack in 1996 and had performed globally.
In April 2023, Grygelko and Grannell were in London to take part in Mommie Queerest, a spoof of the 1981 film Mommie Dearest, which was planned for a two-week engagement at Soho Theatre.
Upon returning to their rented accommodation on April 3, Grannell felt something was off when he found the front door ajar and a loud fan linked to the bathroom light still running.
Grannell discovered Grygelko in the living room, recollecting, “She lies on the floor in full drag, positioned in such a peculiar way that it has become one of the most haunting images for me. She’s on her knees, her face pressed to the floor, and her hands beside her head.”
Typical of drag performers, Grgelko is referred to using female pronouns for her stage persona.
The investigation into Grygelko’s sudden death is ongoing and remains classified as unexpected, with police coordinating with the coroner, as stated by the Met last Friday.
Grannell described the last year and a half as “nightmarish,” as he persistently sought clarity about Grygelko’s demise, with his correspondence to the Met often going unanswered for extended periods. He also submitted a description of Grygelko to Westminster coroner’s court but is uncertain when an inquest will occur.
“The immediate months following the incident left me unable to shake her lifeless face from my mind; I had to seek therapy. This entire ordeal feels like a re-traumatization, placing me back into that bleak nightmare, and I can’t understand how the police expect us to move on when the nightmare is still real for us.”
“She had admirers and close friends. Your responsibility is to provide us with answers. Instead, we’ve received nothing, and now to discover that CCTV footage exists after all this time is infuriating but also somewhat validating, as it reveals their gross negligence.”
Nancy French, a close friend of Grygelko and the administrator of the artist’s estate, supported Grannell’s frustrations. “As Heklina’s next of kin in London, I have yet to receive any cause of death, autopsy findings, or a final death certificate.
“This CCTV footage should have been disclosed 21 months ago. The fact that it is being released now further highlights the incompetence and mismanagement we’ve faced for almost two years,” she stated from California.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police noted that detectives have conducted numerous inquiries and are continuing to collaborate with the coroner to piece together the events of the night leading to Grygelko’s death.
“This extended investigation has yet to determine who was present at the flat during that time, and investigators are now seeking assistance from the public while urging the three individuals seen in the CCTV footage to step forward to aid the inquiry,” they explained.
“Given the ongoing investigation regarding the circumstances surrounding Steven’s death, we are currently unable to publicly disclose the cause of death.”
