Fabiola Thomas, 39, first met Antonio Wilson, 43, on the online dating site Plenty of Fish back in the summer of 2019. The two connected and decided to try out a couple dates in person, but according to WSB-TV, after Thomas rejected his strong advances, Wilson followed her home and killed her just 1 month shy of her 40th birthday.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Wilson had plans to propose to Thomas after only going on few dates. “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,” Assistant District Attorney Abigail Potter told WSB-TV.
After Wilson told Thomas about his plans to marry her, Thomas immediately called it off. “Keep your ring, I’m not your woman,” Thomas wrote in a text to Wilson. “...Stop claiming me because I never claimed u.” Thomas also unfriended Wilson the day before she was killed.
Unsatisfied with Thomas’ response, Wilson reportedly found Thomas’ Georgia apartment, and according to police documents, on the morning of June 8, 2019, Wilson broke into her home and strangled her, leaving her body in her bathtub. Shortly afterwards, Thomas’ body was found by her roommate who would make the devastating call to police.
“The male caller was frantic and hysterical, he advised officers that his roommate was in his bathtub and that something bad had happened to her,” police said in a statement.
Senior Assistant District Attorney Nalda Charles told WSB-TV “that is the most chilling part because she’s [Thomas is] getting ready for work; she’s in her pajamas.”
Months after Thomas’ murder, authorities arrested Wilson after learning about their brief dating history. In October, he was charged with malice murder, according to 11 Alive. The case was prosecuted as domestic violence by the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.
ADA Charles went on to call Thomas’ murder “egregious,” saying “it was unnecessary... She was unarmed, defenseless and in her home, all because she said no.”
Five years later, Thomas’ family finally received justice for their loved one’s murder. During the trial, a Fulton County jury heard witness statements and saw explicit crime scene photos. The jury quickly found Wilson guilty of Thomas’ murder after deliberating for only 30 minutes, according to WSB-TV.
Thomas’ brother, Myrto Charles, told WSB-TV “Her life mattered. She lived with purpose.” He continued, “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.”
A judge sentenced Wilson to life without the possibility of parole on July 23.