Man arrested in murder of pregnant ex-girlfriend in King of Prussia faces new charges

Throughout a information convention, Montgomery County District Lawyer Kevin R. Steele and Higher Merion Police Chief Thomas Nolan stated Rafiq Thompson, 38, of Philadelphia, can be charged with Dying of An Unborn Baby.

Thompson can be charged with First-Diploma Homicide, Third-Diploma Homicide, Individual To not Possess a Firearm and different associated crimes stemming from the taking pictures loss of life of 31-year-old Tamara “Myra” Cornelius.

SEE ALSO: Man sought in homicide of ex-girlfriend at King of Prussia gasoline station turns self in

Higher Merion Township Police had been dispatched at about 10:22 p.m. Friday to the Exxon Station at 113 N. Gulph Highway for a report of pictures fired.

After they arrived on the scene they discovered the sufferer, recognized as Cornelius, mendacity within the car parking zone and affected by a number of gunshot wounds.

She was taken to Paoli Hospital the place she was pronounced lifeless a short while later.

An post-mortem on Cornelius’ physique decided that she was shot 4 instances and that she was 14-weeks pregnant on the time of her homicide. Thompson was the daddy of the unborn youngster, investigators stated.

A murder investigation performed by the Higher Merion Township Police Division and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau revealed that the suspect and the sufferer had been beforehand in a relationship.

Investigators stated Thompson had texted Cornelius 93 instances and referred to as her 21 instances between April 4 and April 6, which she didn’t reply.

On April 8, Thompson texted to ask her out to dinner, and Cornelius responded with a number of cellphone calls between them.

At 9:11 p.m. the 2 are seen in mall video surveillance assembly outdoors of The Cheesecake Manufacturing unit earlier than strolling towards the restaurant’s entrance. The waiter who served them instructed investigators that the 2 seemed to be having a contentious dialog, and when he introduced the meals to the desk, Thompson had left.

Mall surveillance video reveals Thompson left the mall alone at 9:43 p.m.

Cornelius requested the waiter to field the meals for take-out, paid the invoice, then left the restaurant by herself, with mall video exhibiting her exiting the restaurant at 10:15 p.m. and strolling towards the parking storage, investigators stated.

After her go to to the restaurant, she drove to the Exxon at 113 North Gulph Highway. Police say Thompson adopted her to the gasoline station together with his lights off.

As Cornelius was pumping gasoline into her automobile, police say Thompson exited his automobile and shot at her a number of instances, whilst she tried to run away.

In keeping with investigators, a McDonald’s restaurant receipt was present in Thompson’s automobile that confirmed he bought meals at 11:49 p.m., roughly one hour and 27 minutes after the homicide. Video surveillance confirms his automobile went via the drive-through lane of the restaurant.

“This violent prison is now safely behind bars as a result of nice work of the Higher Merion Police and Montgomery County Detectives. I need to thank the general public for the numerous ideas we acquired, which put a highlight on the defendant,” stated DA Steele. “Our ideas are with Ms. Cornelius’ household and mates at this unhappy time.”

The gun was recovered in a garden alongside the 400 block of S. Gulph Highway.

Thompson was on state parole on the time of the homicide, authorities stated.

A preliminary listening to is scheduled for two:45 p.m., April 25 earlier than Magisterial District Choose Patrick Krause.

Household and mates gathered on Thursday night time to recollect Cornelius.

“She would assist anyone. She cherished individuals. She cherished her children. She all the time talked constructive about anyone,” stated longtime buddy Davida Wells.

“She simply purchased her first home. She was doing so good and was stepping into such a constructive path. It is so unhappy this needed to occur when she was thriving in her life,” stated the sufferer’s cousin, Latoya Cornelius.