‘Person of interest’ sought after murdered Baton Rouge therapist found in Tangipahoa Trench

TANGIPAHOA, La. (WVUE) – The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office distributed photos of a “person of interest” Monday evening (September 30) in connection with the discovery of the body of a Baton Rouge therapist, which was found wrapped in a tarp Interview wanted was thrown into a ditch over the weekend.

The agency said its investigators believe the person pictured, captured on a store surveillance camera, is the last known person to have driven the 69-year-old murder victim’s vehicle, identified earlier Monday as William Nicholas Abraham was identified.

The TPSO said Abraham’s vehicle was spotted Monday afternoon by Baton Rouge police attempting a traffic stop. But the driver of the vehicle sped away and eventually fled on foot after crashing the car, authorities said.

Shortly before 8 a.m. on Sunday, a passerby reported a suspicious tarp rolled up on the side of the highway. 51 between Fluker and the village of Tangipahoa. Officers discovered Abraham’s body in the tarp.

The victim, “Nick” Abraham, was a well-known Baton Rouge psychotherapist. The medical examiner’s office determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma and ruled it a homicide.

Sheriff Gerald Sticker said the trauma affected Abraham’s head, neck and shoulders.

“It was a very physical, very violent death,” Sticker said.

Abraham was once a regular on cable television in the Baton Rouge area. According to his website, he was a former Catholic priest, motivational speaker and author.

His lawyer says he had a giving soul.

“I am absolutely devastated and completely surprised that something like this could happen to a man who I believed to be so tender, so gentle and such a servant of heart,” said attorney Jarrett Ambeau.

Officials are working to determine where Abraham’s murder took place. Sticker said officials believe the body was dumped along Highway 51 Saturday evening.