Baton Rouge therapist William Nick Abraham was found dead in a tarp

Officials are asking for the public's help in identifying a person of interest wanted in connection with the killing of a therapist who was found wrapped in a tarp along a Louisiana highway.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office reported that William Nicholas Abraham, 69, was found dead over the weekend on a road in the community on the state's southeastern border.

Abraham's body was found Sunday morning by a passerby along Highway 51 between the unincorporated community of Fluker and the village of Tangipahoa – about 60 miles northeast of Baton Rouge, where investigators say he worked.

Abraham's body was found wrapped in a tarp, and the local medical examiner's office determined he died as a result of blunt force trauma and classified his death as a homicide, the sheriff's office wrote in a news release.

What you should know: Texas wants to execute Garcia Glen White, who confessed to five murders

Nick Abraham's vehicle was located and crashed by a fleeing driver

According to an update from the sheriff's office, deputies located the victim's vehicle Monday afternoon, but the driver of the vehicle sped away from a traffic stop.

At some point, the driver collided with the car and fled the scene, officials said.

The person's identity was not initially known to officers, law enforcement reported.

The sheriff's office provided photos of the driver captured on store surveillance video, described as a thin, black male with short black hair, wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and khaki shorts.

Officers did not provide a description of the victim's vehicle.

Who was William “Nick” Abraham?

According to his bio on his website, Abraham was a life coach, licensed professional counselor, motivational speaker, author and more.

“With more than 30 years of experience treating substance abuse, depression and anxiety, he provides psychotherapy, counseling and psychoeducation to couples, individuals, youth and families,” the bio says.

His office was near the Mid City South neighborhood, about 7 miles east of downtown Baton Rouge.

“Dr. “Nick Abraham was a light, a wonderful therapist who went the extra mile and advocated for his clients beyond appointments and truly loved, cared and shared the light of God,” one of his friends posted after his death Facebook. “I will miss him and pray for his dear friends and family.”

Another person wrote, “I was just talking about him at lunch… about how he led the audience in singing “God Bless America” at the annual Golden Deeds Awards banquet a few years ago after our confirmed singer was a no-show. A unique and talented person; a kind soul. May Nick's memory be a blessing and may God's face shine upon his soul forever.

The motive for the killing of a Baton Rouge therapist is not immediately known

Officials did not give a motive for the killing.

USA TODAY reached out to the sheriff's office, which directed further questions to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, which it said was the lead agency in the case.

That office could not immediately be reached Tuesday morning.

Anyone with information about the person seen in these images is asked to call 985-902-2008. To share information anonymously, call the Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa hotline at 1-800-554-5245 or visit www.tangicrimestoppers.com

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

Nick Abraham's vehicle was located and crashed by a fleeing driver

Who was William “Nick” Abraham?

The motive for the killing of a Baton Rouge therapist is not immediately known

Leave a Reply Cancel reply