A transgender rights advocate who started a pageant for transgender women in New England was found dead in her home Friday. Police say Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien was stabbed and beaten to death by her husband.

Steele-Knudslien is the first known transgender person to be killed this year, LGBT organization GLAAD said. She was found dead in her North Adams home on Friday evening. Her husband, Mark Steele-Knudslien, pleaded not guilty to murder on Monday, days after police say he admitted hitting her with a hammer and stabbing her after an argument.