Charges in case of LGBTQ+ advocate’s murder are imminent

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Charges in the murder case of a prominent LGBTQ+ advocate are imminent after detectives handed the results of their investigation over to a grand jury.

Jorge “George” Diaz-Johnston, a doctorate student at Florida State University, was last seen alive on Jan. 3 and reported missing on Jan. 7. He turned up dead on Jan. 8 in a landfill in Jackson County. He was 54.

Diaz-Johnson, who also worked at a law firm, had been renting a home on Alachua Avenue in Tallahassee. His neighbors said police officers responded to the home where there was a car they didn’t recognize.

Deputies arrested Diaz-Johnston’s roommate Steven Yinger, 36, on Jan. 13 in Leon County on unrelated charges, and he is being held in custody with a status hearing scheduled for Monday morning.

Yinger has a lengthy criminal history in Leon County, spanning the last three decades.

Diaz-Johnston and Don Johnston sued the Miami-Dade County Clerk of the Courts for the right to get married and won in 2015. The couple got separated last year.

Diaz-Johnston was the brother of former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and the uncle of Manny Diaz II, the former coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes.

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Local10.com archives: Jan. 14

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Torres contributed to this report from Miami.


About the Authors
Glenna Milberg headshot

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."

Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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