Therapist was violently killed in TikTok star Mr. Prada's apartment, warrant says

BATON ROUGE, La. (WVUE/WAFB/Gray News) – A popular TikToker has now been charged with second-degree murder for the death of a therapist in Louisiana, officials said.

Terryon Ishmael Thomas, 20, a TikTok personality known as “Mr. Prada,” has been charged in connection with the murder of Baton Rouge therapist Dr. William Nicholas “Nick” Abraham, 69.

Thomas was arrested in Dallas Tuesday afternoon after police said he fled Louisiana following the killing.

The investigation began when Abraham’s body was found wrapped in a tarp and dumped in a ditch Sunday in Louisiana, along Highway 51, between Fluker and the village of Tangipahoa.

Surveillance footage from an area store captured images of Thomas, who investigators said was the last person seen driving Abraham’s vehicle.

Authorities attempted to stop the stolen vehicle Monday afternoon in Baton Rouge, but the driver allegedly backed into the unit identified by an officer and fled. The officer later identified Thomas during a lineup as the driver.

For that, Thomas also faces charges of aggravated criminal damage to property, resisting an officer and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

A Baton Rouge police spokesperson confirmed that Thomas’ TikTok username was “Mr. Prada.” Across two accounts on TikTok, Thomas has 8.2 million followers and more than 550 million likes.

Abraham, a well-known Baton Rouge therapist and former Catholic priest, died from blunt force trauma to the head, neck and shoulders, according to Tangipahoa Parish officials.

Sheriff Gerald Sticker described the homicide as a “very physical, very violent death.”

Abraham’s body was found Sunday morning by a passerby who noticed a suspicious tarpaulin on the side of the highway. Detectives believe the body was left there Saturday evening.

Terryon "Mr. Prada" Thomas (left) and Dr Nick Abraham (right) — Terryon “Mr. Prada” Thomas (left) and Dr. Nick Abraham (right)(Dallas County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)

Where the murder took place

Authorities said investigators discovered Abraham was killed in Thomas’ apartment.

Surveillance video reportedly captured Abraham arriving at Thomas’ apartment complex on Mancuso Lane in Baton Rouge around 11 a.m. Saturday. The next day, Abraham’s body was found wrapped in a tarp in a ditch along Highway 51 between Fluker and the village of Tangipahoa.

According to the arrest warrant, under the blue tarp was a gray quilt taped around Abraham’s body, his head covered with a dark towel. He was found in the same clothes he was wearing when he arrived at Thomas’ apartment.

When detectives searched Thomas’ apartment, they found a “significant amount of blood” throughout the apartment, as well as “several sharp objects and other weapons.”

The warrant claims Thomas attempted to clean the scene and remove additional evidence.

Witnesses reported seeing Thomas dragging an object wrapped in a tarp a few hours after Abraham arrived. He seemed to be struggling as he dragged the object up the stairs. Thomas then loaded the tarp into Abraham’s vehicle, according to the warrant.

Who is Dr. Abraham?

Abraham was a familiar face in the Baton Rouge area, having appeared on cable television as a mental health therapist.

His former lawyer, Jarrett Ambeau, said he was shocked by the brutal nature of his death.

“I am absolutely devastated and completely surprised that something like this could have happened to a man who I thought was so tender, so gentle and had such a servant’s heart,” Ambeau said.

An old accusation of assault on a patient

In 2015, Abraham was accused of molesting an 11-year-old boy during a counseling session, WAFB reported.

The boy was reportedly so upset after the session that he told his family he “never wanted to see (Abraham) again.”

During a session with a new counselor, the boy told his new counselor about Abraham’s alleged assault.

Abraham was arrested at the time and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, where he was later released after posting $25,000 bond, records show.

However, prosecutors did not take the case to court.

“Although there was probable cause for arrest, my office had to determine whether the evidence supported our burden at trial, which constitutes proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” District Attorney Hillar Moore said this week at WAFB. “This matter has been under review by my office for approximately two years. After considering all available evidence, the best interests of the child, and the absence of any incriminating statement from the person arrested, we declined to initiate formal charges.

Ambeau represented Abraham in the 2015 case and said Thomas was not the alleged victim in that case.

“It’s unequivocally not him,” Ambeau told WAFB on Wednesday.

The relationship between Thomas and Abraham and the motive are still under investigation. Officials say they do not believe Thomas was a customer of the victim.

Thomas will be extradited to East Baton Rouge at a later date.