Police in the US state of Ohio have charged a man in connection with the murder of a trans woman.

Cemia Dove, also known as Ci Ci, was found with multiple stab wounds in a pond tied to a concrete block and steel pipe in Olmstead Township near Cleveland last month.

LGBT media group GLAAD criticised the Cleveland Plain Dealer, which covered Dove’s death in a way described as “dehumanising”.

Cleveland City Councillor Joe Cimperman called for Dove’s murder to be treated as a hate crime.

Andrey Bridges, 36, appeared on charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse late last week.

He entered no plea during his brief appearance and bond was set at $5 million (£3.25 million).

Bridges has a long criminal record that includes convictions for aggravated assault, burglary, domestic violence, theft, drug possession and attempted drug trafficking.

He served four stints in prison and was last released in July of 2011 after spending more than six months behind bars for burglary.