A Cleveland woman who killed a Cleveland State University (CSU) professor after receiving $50 and being invited to his house will spend decades behind bars.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison sentenced Terreionna Paschal to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the shooting death of 41-year-old Todd Morgan. Paschal pleaded guilty to aggravated murder with a gun specification.
“There’s nothing that the court can do to make this better, to make this OK, to make this any easier. I will say that the avoidance of a trial is a benefit to everyone because it is an extremely traumatic experience for everyone involved. There would be images and things that you would have to see that you could never un-see. And so I appreciate Miss Paschal for taking responsibility for this and making it so that the family does not have to go through any additional trauma based on the actions that occurred back in April of 2023,” said the judge during the sentencing hearing, according to WKYC.
On April 30, 2023, officers responded to Morgan’s house on a welfare check after he failed to pick up his 4-year-old daughter from school. Upon arrival, they found the victim’s body riddled with gunshot wounds to his head and torso. An autopsy report later confirmed Morgan had been shot seven times.
Witnesses told authorities someone matching the defendant’s description left the premises in a light-colored car. Also, investigators discovered bloody footprints left through the back door of the house and used cigars with Paschal’s DNA on it. Furthermore, Paschal’s phone data and records placed her at the home when Morgan was killed.
Morgan and Paschal had met on Bumble, an online dating platform, and chatted for a few days before the fatal incident. Then, the victim invited the defendant to his house and sent Paschal $50 through CashApp.
"I would like to say I hope you burn in hell, but I can't because I'm a Christian. I serve a God. Todd's family deserves to know what really happened that day if you find the courage to tell the truth," said the victim’s mother, Sandy Morgan, reported News 5 Cleveland.
Paschal apologized to the victim’s family and will be eligible for parole after serving 23 years.
Morgan was a two-time CSU alumni after graduating with a bachelor's and master’s in business administration. At the time of his demise, the victim was a CSU Associate Professor.
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