The search for a suspect behind the butchered body of an alleged sugar daddy and suspicious sweep of his financial accounts has finally come to an end. Authorities say a torn ligament was the key toward solving the mystery.
Fasil Teklemariam, 53, was found dead in his Washington D.C. apartment in April, covered in stab wounds, cuts and pieces of broken glass, per an affidavit. His cause of death was ruled as a result of “multiple blunt and sharp force injuries,” per NBC. Also, his right thumb was missing, appearing to be severed from his hand, police say.
The search for suspects began by examining the residence’s surveillance camera footage, which captured several people coming in and out of the victim’s apartment, including Tiffany Gray, 22, and Audrey Miller, 19.
The police alleged the group was seen using Teklemariam’s key fob to access his home, stealing various electronics and watches on their way out. They also said witnesses informed them Teklemariam had relations with the two women who may have had a hand in his killing. A look into a complaint he previously filed with the police last year helped cement the claim.
Read more from NBC Washington:
Investigators got a break in the case when they learned of a complaint Teklemariam filed with D.C. police last year claiming Gray had taken his phone and used it to steal $1,800 his finance app, police said. Then investigators learned Teklemariam’s cellphone last pinged from a tower in College Park, Maryland, not far from where Gray rented an apartment.
A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation said the claim Teklemariam was Gray’s sugar daddy has not been verified. Investigators do believe the victim’s severed thumb was used to access his phone.
Following the probe into the man’s slaying, police believed Miler and Gray worked in tandem to steal money from his accounts with his severed thumb and use it to ball out on liquor and marijuana, among other things.
Police arrested Miller June 21 on charges of first-degree murder and armed felony murder. Gray was arrested July 1 on the same charges, per the report. Police say there may be a potential third suspect in connection to Teklemariam’s death.
The two await their preliminary hearings while in custody.