Police in Washington, D.C., have charged two women with murder for allegedly killing a man who witnesses referred to as their “sugar daddy,” according to court filings. Audrey Miller, 19, and Tiffany Taylor Gray, 22, are also accused of chopping off the man’s thumb to keep access to his accounts.
Miller and Gray were arrested separately in recent weeks as Metropolitan Police Department investigators sought suspects in the fatal stabbing of 53-year-old Fasil Teklemariam some months ago. On April 5, Teklemariam was discovered dead in his apartment’s bedroom with multiple stab wounds and other injuries, according to police.
According to an affidavit for Miller and Gray’s arrest, one of the injuries was a missing right thumb, which was severed around the time of the killing or shortly after Teklemarian’s death. They are two of the five suspects named in the affidavit. The other three are men, one of whom police have identified as Tommy Whack, 34. He was charged in May in connection with the crime.
Man Allegedly Kept Woman in Basement Torture Dungeon, Then Killed and Disposed of Body: Police
According to the affidavit, police uncovered “evidence suggesting that cleaning agents had been used to conceal and/or eliminate evidence to conceal or obscure the actions of the suspect or suspects who had committed the offense.” Footprints and other evidence remained at the location.
CCTV footage from the foyer of Teklemariam’s apartment building appeared to show both suspects present on the evening he was slain, many days before police discovered his body. The tape also allegedly showed three of the suspects, including Gray, returning on April 3 at around 2 a.m. to steal many Teklemariam-owned things. Stills from the film show many people entering the facility wearing hooded sweatshirts and masks, as well as exiting with their hands full of bags and boxes.
In addition to the victim’s thumb, authorities stated Teklemariam’s “cellphone, tablet, or any other such electronic device” was still missing.
A witness, identified in court records as being romantically engaged with one of the accused, recognized Gray and Miller. According to police, a witness told them that Gray had previously visited Teklemarian’s apartment building at least twice and was her “sugar daddy.”
Texas MAN CHARGED With Murder After STABBING FATHER to Death in Violent Frenzy
The same witness stated in an interview with investigators that “they, referring generally to a group of involved people, cut the decedent’s thumb off” and “also overheard something about the decedent being stabbed,” according to the documents. According to police, the witness claimed to have seen Gray use Teklemarian’s missing thumb to withdraw money from his account, pay for Uber rides, and buy alcohol and other narcotics as per CBSNEWS.
The witness informed investigators that Gray may have used Cash App accounts to collect money from Teklemarian as well. According to police, Teklemarian had previously filed a theft report against Gray in connection with his then-lost phone and $1,600 in Cash App payments.
After obtaining the address of Gray’s College Park, Maryland, apartment, police used surveillance tapes at the building, where none of the suspects attempted to conceal themselves, to determine their names and subsequently locate them. Gray and Miller are both charged with armed felony murder in the first degree in connection with Teklemariam’s death.