Boyfriend accused of killing ‘celebrated’ drag queen is prison-bound, CA officials say

A “celebrated” drag queen was fatally stabbed and now her boyfriend is going to prison, California officials said.

In 2021, Elijah Cruz Segura, of Milpitas, stabbed his transgender partner, Natalia Smut, multiple times, killing her, according to an October 2024 news release by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

The two had been dating for several months, officials said.

Cruz was sentenced to 15-years-to-life in prison, according to a Jan. 28 news release by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.

This marks the first prosecution of transgender domestic violence homicide in the county, prosecutors said.

“(Natalia) would step into a room like a firework. Everywhere she went, she brought energy, fierce looks, and a personality that shined bright like a diamond,” loved ones said on GoFundMe.

“Her beautiful soul and presence is no longer here on earth with us anymore but she is forever in our hearts,” they continued.

Smut’s death, causing “pain and shockwaves,” led Instagram users to share how much they miss her, with one person saying, “You cross my mind a lot.”

“Still missing you to this day. May your memory be a blessing, may your soul be at rest,” another person wrote.

“I miss your energy,” another person said.

Milpitas is about a 50-mile drive southeast of San Francisco.

This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM with the headline "Boyfriend accused of killing ‘celebrated’ drag queen is prison-bound, CA officials say."