SignalHub-TikTok star now charged with murder in therapists' death: 'A violent physical altercation'

A TikTok influencer arrested after the body of a Baton Rouge therapist was found duct taped and SignalHubwrapped in a blue tarp along a Louisiana highway last month is now charged with first-degree murder in the case, new details in the case show.

Terryon Thomas, 20, was initially arrested Oct. 1 in Texas on charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle, aggravated criminal damage to property and resisting arrest in connection to the killing of William Nicholas Abraham, 69, court records show. He was taken into custody after allegedly stealing the victim's car after the killing.

Court papers obtained by USA TODAY also show video surveillance captured Abraham entering Thomas' apartment the night before his disappeared, and Thomas − not long after −dragging what appeared to be a body from the home into the Abraham's car.

The next day, on Oct. 1, Thomas was also charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice in the killing, according to a warrant filed by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office.

On Tuesday, after officials told USA TODAY he was extradited to Louisiana, Thomas appeared in court before East Baton Rouge Parish Commissioner Jermaine Guillory, where prosecutors announced the murder charge had been upgraded to first-degree murder.

During the hearing, Guillory ordered Thomas be held without bond, set a bond hearing in the case for mid January and appointed Thomas a public defender.

As of Wednesday, Thomas had not entered a plea in the case, a court clerk told USA TODAY.

Thomas, who maintains a TikTok profile as Mr. Prada with nearly 4 million followers, remained jailed Wednesday at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, sheriff's office spokesperson Savannah Jonessaid.

A spokesperson for the public defender's office in Baton Rouge told USA TODAY Wednesday it could not comment on the case.

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A tarp, a body and a stolen car

The new murder filling comes after the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Abraham's body was found Sept. 29 along Highway 51, about 60 miles northeast of Baton Rouge. The area is between the unincorporated community of Fluker and the Village of Tangipahoa on the state's southeastern border.

According to an arrest affidavit, when the blue tarp was cut open, Abraham's body was found rolled up inside a gray comforter bound by duct tape. A coroner determined Abraham died as a result of blunt force trauma, officials said, and ruled his death a homicide.

That same day, the sheriff's office learned the victim's vehicle − a black Lincoln MKZ was missing and the following day, on Sept. 29, footage captured the car at a shopping center in Denham Springs, just west of Baton Rouge. Detectives reviewed more footage, the affidavit continues, and saw a person of interest in the case exit the Lincoln and walk into the business.

Law enforcement released photos the person to the public, and the next day, a Baton Rouge Police Department officer attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description the victim's car about 50 miles from where Abraham's body was found.

According to the warrant, the car's license plate came back showing the vehicle as stolen but the driver sped off during the stop, crashed the vehicle and fled on foot.

The officer later identified Thomas as the wanted party.

Thomas then fled to Texas, police said, and on Oct. 1 was captured and booked into the Dallas County jail, online records show.

He was extradited to Louisiana on Monday, officials told USA TODAY.

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Suspect's apartment: Evidence of 'a violent physical altercation'

It was not immediately known how the pair knew one another, but according to Thomas' arrest affidavit, video surveillance shows the victim entered Thomas' apartment the night before he was found dead.

About 11 p.m. on Sept. 28, a detective wrote in the warrant wrote, Abraham was captured on camera arriving at Thomas' apartment complex wearing the same clothes he was found dead in the next day.

Witnesses at the complex also told police they saw Thomas dragging an object wrapped in a blue tarp hours after Abraham was last seen, the warrant continues.

"The accused appeared to be struggling while dragging the blue tarp down the stairs," a detective wrote in the warrant. "The accused was observed loading the tarp into the victim's vehicle."

During a search warrant of Thomas' apartment, the affidavit continues, detectives found evidence of "a violent physical altercation” at the scene. According to the warrant, authorities found blood inside the home matching Abraham’s DNA, along with “multiple sharp objects” and other weapons.

After Thomas was taken into custody in Dallas, he refused to speak to detectives, court papers show.

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Victim spent 11 years as Catholic priest

According to a biography on his webpage, Abraham was a life coach, licensed professional counselor, motivational speaker, author and more. It also said he had spent 11 years as priest for the Catholic Church.

As of Wednesday, a motive in the killing remained under investigation, the sheriff's office confirmed, and so far there was no evidence to show Thomas was a client of the victim.

Thomas has two TikTok accounts including one where he goes by the handle, "Mr. Prada 456". The accounts display colorful posts that include dancing, memes and other social trends.

In one photo posted last year, the content creator shows him jokingly practicing his mugshot.

"practicing for my mugshot cus this might be the year someone gonna meet god if they piss me off too much," the post reads.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.