20-year-old TikTok influencer Terryon Ishmael Thomas, better known as “Mr. Prada,” was arrested in Dallas on October 1, 2024, for his alleged involvement in the murder of Baton Rouge therapist William Nicholas Abraham. Abraham, 69, was found dead just inhumed two days earlier along a highway in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, about 60 miles from Baton Rouge, on September 29, 2024, his body wrapped in a tarp.
The discovery of Abraham’s body has shocked the whole local community. According to the coroner’s report, Abraham was brutally beaten; he had blunt force trauma with lacerations and bruises to his head, neck, and shoulders. The manner of death, according to the authorities, was ‘violent’ in nature, and so an all-intense investigation was launched.
Abraham was a popular life coach and therapist from Baton Rouge, having frequently appeared on local television to walk viewers through stresses regarding relationships and personal issues. The sudden and tragic death of this counselor, so dedicated to saving and helping people, has left many wondering what could have led to such a violent end. Nick Abraham was also familiar on local news broadcasts, nickabraham.net.
Things started to move quickly when Thomas was spotted driving Abraham’s stolen car. Police attempted to stop the car, but Thomas ran for it and crashed into the vehicle. After this, he attempted to flee from the police on foot but was apprehended after a short run. He was then booked for resisting arrest, aggravated criminal damage to property, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Oddly enough, Thomas has not been indicted for murder as of yet, although police still connect him with the action.
Thomas, also known as “Mr. Prada,” had built up a large following on TikTok, where his fashion lifestyle leaned toward the bold and edgy, with various pairings of the most top-of-the-line designer brands like Prada. His online personality got him thousands tuned in, appreciative of his tastes in high-end fashion and lifestyle videos. This new arrest now leaves fans and those around him speechless, wrapping their minds around how this really well-thought-out social media presence just got out of the dungeon with such a violent crime attached to a name now synonymous with high-end fashion and good taste.
This case is amongst the most puzzling because of the motive that has not been explained. Police have yet to confirm their status in this regard, though Thomas and Abraham come from worlds that could not have been more different: he is professionally into therapy and life coaching, and she is deep in social media stardom and fashion. There is growing speculation on how their lives may have crossed.
Meanwhile, Baton Rouge Sheriff Gerald Sticker has described the crime as “a very physical, very violent death,” though no official statements have dealt with motives. Abraham was from Baton Rouge and left his home on September 28 to finish some paperwork in his office. Just a day later, his lifeless body was found with so much not answered about his last hours before he died.
The arrest immediately created an online storm, for many of Thomas’s followers found it hard to believe. Some defended him: How could such a fun-loving, stylish online persona be connected with such a brutal crime? On the other hand, the dark reality behind the arrest raised questions as to whether Thomas’s persona was merely an illusion serving to veil something a lot more sinister.
That contrast between his social media fame and the violent nature of the crime got him into intense speculation on TikTok, where he had been posting light-hearted videos. People can’t seem to understand how someone so saturated with fashion and displays of luxury could be connected with such a horrific incident.
Thomas remains in custody in Dallas as he awaits extradition to Louisiana while the investigation continues. Authorities have not given any information on this matter, although it is not yet known whether further charges will be filed anytime soon. However, the recovery of Abraham’s stolen car that Thomas was driving, along with his attempt to flee from the police, did raise suspicion. For now, the full picture remains unclear.
