Who is Mr Prada? TikToker whose real name is Terryon Thomas arrested over murder of Louisiana therapist
A TikTok star identified as a person of interest in an investigation into the “violent” death of a Louisiana therapist is known for his comedy sketches.
Terryon Ishmael Thomas, known by his stage name Mr Prada, was arrested on Tuesday after police found the body of William Nicholas Abraham, 69, wrapped in a tarpaulin and dumped on the side of a highway.
Police initially posted CCTV footage of a ‘person of interest’ who was quickly identified online as the 20-year-old TikToker.
Thomas has amassed 4.3 million followers on the app and 536 million likes on his videos.
Terryon Ishmael Thomas, 20, was taken into custody Tuesday evening in Dallas, Texas
The 69-year-old was a life coach, consultant and motivational speaker who worked near Baton Rouge
Hailing from Baton Rouge, he is best known for sharing comedic point of view videos about dating and friendships.
Within hours of police sharing photos of the then-unnamed person of interest, Thomas’ TikTok videos were flooded with fans wondering if he was “on the run.”
Fans said they had noticed a change in Prada’s content and its appearance in recent months.
In April, he debuted a new look, shaving off his eyebrows as well as the long dreadlocks he was previously known for.
In a video showing the moment he shaved his head, Thomas kept repeating “the hair had to go,” before telling the camera, “I haven’t had a bald head in so long.”
“Life is a mess,” he said in the Aug. 16 video. ‘My life is hell, my life is a prison. Get me out.”
Thomas will appear before a judge in Dallas to determine whether he will be extradited to Louisiana to face charges of aggravated criminal damage to property, resisting an officer and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
Baton Rouge police say Thomas on Monday was driving a Lincoln MKZ belonging to a beloved therapist who was found dead a day earlier
Abraham’s body was found Sunday morning along Highway 51 in Tangipahoa
Police allege Thomas was the last known person in the victim’s car because he failed to respond to a traffic stop the day after Abraham’s murder.
After evading the traffic stop, the driver took off, crashed the car and eventually fled on foot.
According to an arrest warrant seen by DailyMail.com, Thomas was identified from a line of six people by the officer involved in the traffic stop.
“The officer positively identified the defendant as the individual who was driving a stolen vehicle, who struck his marked unit while standing behind it, and who resisted arrest,” the affidavit said.
“Upon review of the officer’s body-worn camera and the in-car camera, the images coincided with his statement.”