Roomies, this case is straight out of a true crime doc—and it’s finally cracking open nearly two decades later. What started as an unidentified body in a burning bag back in 2007 has now led authorities to arrest a woman who was once believed to be the victim’s loving partner. The names at the center of this jaw-dropping story? Angel Thompson and Nicole Alston.
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From Fraud Charges To Murder Accusations
According to investigators, Angel Thompson was already facing charges in 2024 for allegedly concealing Nicole’s death and fraudulently using her identity to collect hundreds of thousands in government benefits. But now, she’s been hit with the big one: malice murder. Officials say Thompson not only hid Alston’s death but may have been the one who took her life. The remains, found in a burnt duffel bag in Hogansville, Georgia, in 2007, went unidentified for years—until DNA testing and forensic genealogy confirmed in 2023 that the victim was 24-year-old Nicole Alston, who had moved from NYC to Atlanta with Thompson.
A Troubled Relationship And A Final Call
DA Fani Willis, and investigators painted a chilling picture during a recent press conference, revealing that Nicole’s relationship with Thompson was reportedly abusive. Nicole’s mother, Sylvia Alston, recalled her daughter wanting to come home but feeling like she could handle things. Unfortunately, that would be the topic of her final phone call. Prosecutors now believe Thompson killed Nicole out of fear—both of losing her and of being exposed for past crimes. Authorities also claim she immediately began exploiting Nicole’s identity, racking up over $200,000 in stolen benefits while posing as her, renewing her license, and even recruiting other potential victims.
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The Community Speaks Out
In a revealing press conference on Wednesday, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis shared:
“They found 13 pieces of her body, but they were not able to identify her. The reason that they were not able to identify her is because: until this day, we still have not been able to find her hands, her feet, or her head. She wanted to come home, but said she had it under control.” She continued, “This involves classic domestic violence, where the young lady was basically not going to allow both her lover — and I hate to say such a nasty term — but really ‘cash cow,’ the person that was bringing her money, to go. And it ended tragically.”
Additionally, the victim’s mother, Sylvia Alston, spoke to reporters on Wednesday, adding that her daughter “came to Georgia with this person who told her she was going to help her.” She also said:
“She didn’t deserve this, and I wish I’d never let her come to Georgia. She was the life of the party. She was happy, and through all of her trials and struggles, she always made everything seem OK. She was always the one people called on to talk to.”
Now, with Thompson behind bars and held without bond, DA Willis hopes this case helps uncover more victims and possibly add on a human trafficking charge to Thompson’s fate, as the DA believes Alston and others may have also been subject to trafficking at her hands.
