The sudden and unexplained death of Steven Grygelko, the renowned drag artist known as Heklina, has left his family and friends grappling with grief and unanswered questions. Grygelko was found unresponsive in his London flat in April 2023 by his close friend and fellow drag performer, Joshua Grannell, also known as Peaches Christ. The two were sharing the Soho Square apartment provided by the production company staging their “Mommie Queerest” show, a parody of the film “Mommie Dearest.” Grannell’s discovery of Grygelko’s body, dressed in full drag, remains a deeply traumatic memory, etched into his mind. The initial shock has since morphed into frustration and anger towards the Metropolitan Police, whose handling of the investigation he deems “totally unacceptable.”
The official stance of the Met Police, nearly two years after Grygelko’s passing, remains that the death was “unexpected.” This ambiguous classification has offered little solace to those closest to Grygelko, who yearn for concrete answers and closure. The seeming lack of progress in the investigation, coupled with the delayed release of crucial information, has fueled Grannell’s suspicion and disappointment. He contends that the police have failed their duty to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding his friend’s death, leaving loved ones in a state of limbo.
Grannell remains convinced that someone else was present in the flat prior to Grygelko’s death. He cites the unusual state of the apartment upon his return – the front door ajar and a bathroom fan, which both he and Grygelko disliked, running – as evidence supporting his theory. While the police did find recreational drugs in the apartment, Grannell vehemently dismisses the possibility of an overdose, emphasizing that Grygelko was not a habitual user of hard drugs. Communication between the two prior to the incident gave no indication of any distress or unusual behavior, further solidifying Grannell’s belief that another individual played a role in the tragedy.
The delayed release of CCTV footage showing three men visiting the flat shortly before Grygelko’s death has further exacerbated Grannell’s frustration with the Met Police. He questions why this potentially vital piece of evidence was not made public earlier, emphasizing the lost time that could have been crucial to the investigation. Grannell criticizes the police for what he perceives as a lack of urgency and thoroughness, contrasting their approach unfavorably with his expectations of law enforcement. His primary concern, shared by Grygelko’s family, is the absence of a definitive cause of death, a fundamental question that remains unanswered almost two years after the tragic event.
The recent Zoom meeting between Grygelko’s next of kin, Grannell, and the detective in charge of the case, served only to amplify their dissatisfaction. While the subsequent public appeal for information regarding the three men in the CCTV footage was a step forward, Grannell maintains that it was a belated and insufficient response. The lack of communication and transparency from the police has left Grygelko’s loved ones feeling disregarded and abandoned in their pursuit of truth and justice. Their collective desire is not for retribution, but for a thorough and conclusive investigation that can provide the answers they so desperately crave.
Beyond the ongoing investigation, Grygelko’s death represents a significant loss to the drag community and the wider entertainment world. Grannell remembers his friend of nearly 30 years as a brilliantly funny and secretly kind individual, a mentor who helped launch numerous careers without seeking recognition. Heklina, whose stage name derived from an Icelandic volcano, became a legendary figure in the San Francisco drag scene, known for hosting the popular weekly series “Mother,” which attracted celebrities like Lady Gaga. Her contributions to drag performance, including her role in the drag production of “The Golden Girls” and co-founding the long-running show Trannyshack, cemented her status as a trailblazer and icon. The unanswered questions surrounding her death only add to the tragedy, casting a long shadow over the vibrant legacy she leaves behind.
