A convicted killer who transitioned from male to female while in prison was awarded a large settlement with the Oregon Department of Corrections after a lawsuit claiming abuse by staff while housed in a male prison.
Zera Lola Zombie, a biological male who has been housed in the women's Coffee Creek Correctional Facility since April 2025, won the $295,000 settlement stemming from the 2021 lawsuit, according to sex change hormones. In 2022, Zombie began the process of seeking a sex change surgery in prison.
According to the report, Zombie will receive $95,000 from the settlement, while Zombie's attorneys will receive $200,000 to cover their fees.
Zombie claimed repeated sexual assaults by a cellmate at the Oregon State Penitentiary, and further sexual assaults at the hands of a different cellmate at Two Rivers Correctional Facility, according to cell with an inmate known to be a sex offender, or that defendants will designate plaintiff as a vulnerable inmate," said an order written by United States District Court Judge Ann Aiken. "Plaintiff need not await another assault before obtaining preventative relief."
"While we cannot comment on specifics of litigation, we take all allegations of sexual assault seriously and are committed to addressing them thoroughly and responsibility, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Corrections told Fox News Digital. "We uphold our duty to protect those in our custody, guided by a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse and harassment. Prevention remains a priority, and we are dedicated to eliminating sexual assault and misconduct in Oregon's correctional facilities."
Zombie's attorney, John Burgess, did not return a request for comment.