(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
A Georgia man has received a life sentence for the 2019 murder of Fabiola Thomas, whom he met on a dating app. Atlanta Black Star reports that Antonio Wilson was convicted on July 23 for the slaying.
In June 2019, Fabiola Thomas’ roommate found her in a bathtub at their Roswell, Georgia apartment, according to PEOPLE.
Thomas’s roommate heard a scream that morning. After discovering her body in the bathtub, he called 911. Authorities confirmed signs of trauma on Fabiola’s body.
ABS confirmed that Wilson and Thomas met on Plenty of Fish and saw each other briefly before she ended things. Wilson, however, believed they were ready to advance their relationship and even told Thomas that he intended to propose.
Per Atlanta Black Star, Fabiola told Antonio that she was against the engagement through several text messages. Authorities informed PEOPLE that before her death, Fabiola sent Antonio a text message asking him to “stop claiming” her.
WSB-TV reported that prosecutors presented one of Fabiola’s texts to Antonio. The message reportedly read, “Keep your ring. I’m not your woman, never was. Stop claiming me because I never claimed you,” Fabiola wrote.
Assistant District Attorney Nalda Charles told PEOPLE that Fabiola Thomas had unfriended Antonio Wilson the day before her death, but the platform wasn’t specified.
Fox 5 Atlanta reveals that Antonio Wilson was arrested on October 25, 2019, following the ruling of Fabiola’s death as a homicide.
WSB-TV notes that after five years and a brief 30-minute jury deliberation, Antonio was found guilty. On Tuesday, July 23, a judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole for malice murder.
In an interview with WSB-TV, District Attorney Abigail Porter praised Fabiola Thomas for following all the right steps when meeting someone on a dating app.
“Ms. Thomas did everything that you would think you should do. She told her friends where she was going. She would only meet him in public places,” Porter explained.
Thomas’ family noted that she passed away just one week before her 40th birthday. Fabiola’s brother, Myrto Charles, noted that she lived life fully and had many dreams and goals.
“My sister enjoyed and loved life. She had dreams and goals she wanted to accomplish, yet that all died with her when she was gasping for her last breath,” Charles stated.
