A Georgia lady was arrested for the homicide and years-long id theft of her girlfriend, a New Yorker who was discovered dismembered past recognition in a burning physique bag almost 18 years in the past, in accordance with authorities.
Angel Thompson has been charged with the December 2007 homicide of Nicole Alston, a 24-year-old lady from Manhattan who was found reduce into 13 items, together with her palms, ft, and head lacking in a burning physique bag on the aspect of a quiet Georgia street, Fulton County officers introduced at a press convention on Wednesday.
“It took a real sociopath to do what occurred right here,” Clay Bryant, an investigator with the Troup County Sheriff’s Division, mentioned.
The lacking components of Alston’s physique have been by no means situated, and the situation of her stays led to the 16-year lag in her identification, officers mentioned.
However, in early 2023, the case was reviewed, and DNA proof that matched a relative helped authorities affirm the stays belonged to Alston, whose final identified location was Manhattan.
Investigators discovered that Alston left the Massive Apple in 2007 to stay with Thompson, who was wished on the time in New York for theft and id fraud, in accordance with paperwork obtained by Fox 5 Information.
Thompson allegedly trafficked Alston earlier than she was murdered, and the 2 had an abusive, coercive relationship, authorities mentioned.
“We imagine this sufferer was trafficked previous to her homicide, that this concerned traditional home violence, the place this younger woman [Thompson] was principally not going to permit each her lover and, i hate to say such a nasty time period, however her money cow, the person who was bringing her cash, go,” Fulton County District Lawyer Fani Willis mentioned on the press convention.
On the evening Alston was killed, she had already begun to go on relationship apps and search for different ladies, Detective John Nanoff informed reporters.
After Alston’s stays have been found, Thompson allegedly stole her id to gather social safety advantages, meals stamps, and Part 8 housing below her title for eight years.
She then opened financial institution accounts, e-mail accounts, and even swapped Alston’s picture together with her image on her driver’s license in 2010, Nanoff mentioned.
“It’s astounding what she was capable of do, what she did for the way lengthy she did it,” Nanoff mentioned. “I’ve by no means seen one thing so calculated and meticulous earlier than,” he mentioned.
In 2015, when the Social Safety Administration contacted her to verify her id to proceed advantages, Thompson started utilizing her authentic id, Fox 5 reported.
She collected roughly $140,000 in authorities advantages below Alston’s id, Nanoff mentioned.
In August 2023, Thompson was arrested for concealing Alston’s demise, the outlet reported.
Lastly, on Tuesday, she was arrested and charged with Alston’s homicide and two counts of id theft, almost two years later, information present.
Sylvia Austin, the mom of the sufferer, mentioned she by no means stopped in search of her daughter after she went lacking.
“She didn’t deserve this, and I want I’d by no means let her come to Georgia,” she mentioned.
“She was the lifetime of the occasion. She was glad, and thru all of her trials and struggles, she at all times made every thing appear OK. She was at all times the one folks referred to as on to speak to,” she mentioned.
Willis indicated prosecutors will take their time with Thompson’s indictment as a result of elaborate nature of the case.
Officers urged anybody with details about Thompson or the couple to achieve out to the Fulton County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
The alleged killer is presently in custody at Fulton County Jail with out bond, in accordance with court docket information.
