Body found near University Community Center

The Facebook page of 25-year-old India Clarke makes it clear she was fond of taking selfies. 

”He liked to dress up and look nice he loved himself he took a lot of pictures of himself every day,” said his father, Samuel Clarke.

India was born -- Samuel Elija Clarke.  Family and friends say he’d been living as a woman for the last several years.  They say she was always smiling.

“He didn’t worry what nobody said about him,” his mother Thelma told FOX 13.

“My son he loves everybody, he always liked to play around with me and joke around,” his Father added.

Tuesday, Clarke’s body was found outside of the University Area Community Center in Tampa off of N. 22nd Street.

Deputies say Clarke was killed by upper body trauma but aren’t saying much more about how or why. 

Clarke does have a history of prostitution -- she was arrested for it back in 2013. 

At this point her family does not believe her lifestyle had anything to do with the murder.

“I’ve always told my son whatever you do, whoever you be with let them know upfront what you are and who you are. So I don’t think it was, he said mom I don’t play with my life like that,” Clarke’s mother explained.

Investigators are looking for clues. 

They hope the public can help.  There is a $3000 reward for information leading to an arrest.