BATON ROUGE, USA — Terryon Thomas, a 20-year-old TikTok content creator known online as Mr Prada, has been charged with second-degree murder and obstruction of justice, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday, October 3, 2024.
Thomas, who has nearly 4 million followers on TikTok, was arrested in Dallas on Tuesday after the Baton Rouge Police Department issued a warrant for his arrest.
The popular social media personality faces charges in connection with the death of 69-year-old therapist William Nicholas Abraham, also of Baton Rouge.
Abraham’s body was discovered on the side of a highway in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, on Sunday.
Law enforcement officials said the cause of death was blunt force trauma, and the case is being investigated as a homicide.
Details of the Allegations
Thomas is accused of driving Abraham’s stolen vehicle and has been charged with aggravated criminal damage to property, resisting an officer, and unauthorised use of a motor vehicle.
According to an affidavit from the sheriff’s office, evidence collected from Thomas’ residence indicated a violent altercation had taken place.
Investigators found “a significant amount of blood” and “multiple sharp objects and other weapons” in his apartment.
Surveillance footage shows Abraham arriving at Thomas’ apartment complex the day before his body was found, wearing the same clothes he was later discovered in.
Witnesses also reported seeing Thomas dragging a tarp from his apartment and loading it into Abraham’s vehicle, according to the affidavit.
Social Media Speculation
Since the allegations against Thomas surfaced, social media has been awash with speculation about the nature of his relationship with Abraham.
Many posts on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) have garnered millions of views, with users sharing theories about the events leading up to Abraham’s death.
Some online users pointed to a 2015 incident in which Abraham was arrested after being accused of inappropriately touching an 11-year-old client.
However, prosecutors declined to bring the case to trial. Abraham’s former attorney, Jarrett Ambeau, confirmed that Thomas was not involved in that case.
In response to the online speculation, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, “There is no evidence to suggest that Thomas was a client of Abraham,” adding that the relationship between the two men and the potential motive for the crime are still under investigation.
Ongoing Investigation
East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux praised law enforcement agencies for their efforts in the ongoing investigation.
“I appreciate the work done by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police and Crime Lab, Baton Rouge Police Department, U.S. Marshal’s Service and all others involved,” Gautreaux said.
“This is an ongoing investigation that will take time to gather further evidence. I hope that this arrest may bring some closure and assurance to friends and family.”
Thomas remains in custody in Dallas, where he awaits extradition to Louisiana.
His management team has not commented on the case, and it is unclear if Thomas has secured legal representation. A court date has not yet been set.
Rise to Fame and Controversy
Thomas gained popularity on TikTok for his comedic content, but his online presence has not been without controversy.
According to Know Your Meme, Thomas was accused of copying other creators’ videos, a claim that sparked debates within the TikTok community.
Thomas had previously posted now-deleted videos stating he was unapologetic about replicating others’ content.
As the investigation continues, Thomas’ arrest has left his millions of followers and the broader social media community in shock, with many awaiting further developments in the case.
