Two women have been arrested and charged with the murder and dismemberment of a man in Washington, D.C. Tiffany Taylor Gray, 22, was apprehended in Maryland on a warrant for first-degree murder in connection with the killing of 53-year-old Fasil Teklemariam. The victim was found dead in his apartment on April 5. He had suffered stab wounds, blunt-force fractures to his head, and was missing his right thumb. The investigation revealed that Gray and Audrey Denise Miller, 19, were involved in the heinous crime.
It was reported that Gray referred to Teklemariam as her “sugar daddy,” although these claims have not been confirmed by the police. Witnesses stated that Gray worked as a sex worker and that she used Teklemariam’s severed thumb to access his finance app on his stolen cell phone to make purchases for drugs and alcohol. The exact circumstances of his death have not been disclosed.
Surveillance footage showed all four suspects, two women, and two men, entering Teklemariam’s apartment with a key fob and removing items in the days leading up to his discovery. It is believed that the victim was killed on April 1. Miller, who has been charged with first-degree murder, was seen in the company of Teklemariam before his death, according to charging documents.
Authorities received a crucial tip when they learned about a previous incident where Gray allegedly stole $1,800 from Teklemariam’s finance app using his phone. The victim had reported the theft to the police, claiming that Gray had taken his phone during a visit and made unauthorized transactions. Investigators were able to trace the victim’s cellphone to an area near Gray’s residence in Maryland.
The suspects were also linked to a robbery in Maryland, where a man was held at gunpoint and robbed after arranging to meet Taylor through a dating app. The suspects forced the victim to reveal his banking pin codes and burglarized his home. Gray has a history of meeting men online and stealing from them.
The investigation revealed that a black Dodge Durango used by the suspects was observed outside Teklemariam’s apartment building in April. The vehicle was eventually stopped by police, and items found inside matched those worn by the suspects seen leaving the scene of the crime. Gray is facing charges of armed robbery and armed kidnapping in the Maryland case and is awaiting extradition to Washington, D.C. for her involvement in Teklemariam’s death.