Woman allegedly used severed thumb from 'sugar daddy' to open his phone, take money after killing him

WASHINGTON (TCN) -- A 22-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of killing her 53-year-old "sugar daddy," severing his thumb, and using it to access financial apps on his phone.

According to Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, on April 5 at approximately 11:20 p.m., officers were called to the 1300 block of Peabody Street Northwest regarding an unconscious person in an apartment. Police entered the residence and found Fasil Teklemariam deceased from apparent stab wounds. Over two months later, on June 21, police arrested 19-year-old Audrey Miller in Maryland on a charge of first-degree murder while armed.

On July 1, a second suspect, Tiffany Taylor Gray, was located in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and arrested for first-degree murder while armed. She will be extradited back to D.C.

According to Miller’s criminal complaint, Teklemariam was found lying on his back on a bed in his apartment with head trauma and lacerations to his legs and hand. There were reportedly shards of glass on his body and bed. The complaint says Teklemariam’s right thumb had been cut off, though it had most likely been removed postmortem or close to his time of death. The medical examiner determined he died from multiple blunt force and sharp force injuries.

Teklemariam was reportedly last seen alive on CCTV footage on the evening of April 1. The medical examiner believes he was killed two to five days before police went to his apartment.

Investigators discovered footprints at the scene and noted that Teklemariam’s phone, thumb, and other electronics have not been located. Police identified four suspects in the criminal complaint, including Gray. Gray, Miller, and a third suspect, Tommy Whack, were seen entering Teklemariam’s building on April 1 and April 3. Teklemariam’s phone was traced to College Park, Maryland, at around midnight on April 2.

According to the complaint, a witness who previously dated Gray told police that Gray, who also goes by Taylor Greene, is a prostitute and Teklemariam was her "sugar daddy." The witness said Gray allegedly used Teklemariam’s severed thumb to get money from his bank account and pay for Uber rides and marijuana.

The complaint says Gray has been arrested in the past for fraud, including an incident in October that involved Teklemariam. On Oct. 4, 2023, he contacted the Metro D.C. Police Department and said he was with Gray at his house, but then she "left without saying goodbye." He noticed his phone was missing and there were charges made on his Cash App. Teklemariam allegedly claimed Gray, who is "very smart with computers," switched his Google password.

Gray reportedly "has had multiple arrests throughout Prince George’s County for incidents where she scammed and stole from potential romantic partners through dating apps as well as a history of false identification, and she also has open arrest warrants in Prince George’s County for assault."

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