Advertisement Police arrest fifth suspect in Burlington transgender man's slaying Amber Dennis, 29, charged with second-degree murder Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Police have arrested a fifth person in connection with the beating death of a transgender man in Burlington.Amber Dennis, 29, a transient in Burlington, was arrested Monday and charged with one count of second-degree murder.Watch this storyOn Tuesday, Dennis arrived for her arraignment in Vermont Superior Court, which was postponed until Wednesday.Her defense attorney stated he had a conflict of interest.“I have a conflict of interest in the matter and ask that the court reassign council,” he said.Dennis is facing one charge of second degree murder for her alleged role in the assault of Amos Beede, which ultimately led to the transgender man’s death.Dennis and four others (Erik Averill, 21, Myia Barber, 22, Alison Gee, 25, and Jordan Paul, 21) are accused of violently attacking Beede on May 22 near a homeless encampment off Pine Street.The four other suspects fled to California after the attack, where they were arrested.State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan said they are now on their way back to Vermont.“They've been picked up, they've left San Diego, and they are in transit back to Vermont. We expect an arraignment on those four individuals sometime after June the 30th,” Donovan said.According to court documents, the suspects told police Dennis was present before and during the assault on Beede.Police said the woman was living at the homeless encampment when the fight broke out.Dennis denied her involvement, but Donovan said the investigation is ongoing.“We will continue to work with members of the Burlington Police Department to conduct a thorough investigation, and we are going to go where the evidence takes us,” Donovan said. “This is obviously a case of the highest importance, and we will continue to work with everybody and everything that was involved in this case.”Investigators said Dennis was was living in the homeless encampment with the other suspects at the time of Amos Beede's beating death.The other four waived extradition to Vermont to face one count each of second degree murder.Police said tension between two homeless camps led to Beede's beating.Dennis was held on $100,000 bail. She was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning in Chittenden County Court.Get the WPTZ app