Man Pleads Guilty For Christmas Day Murder Of D.C. Yoga Teacher

WASHINGTON, DC — The man accused of murdering D.C. actress and yoga instructor Tricia McCauley on Christmas Day 2016 pled guilty to the charges in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Wednesday.

Adrian Duane Johnson (also known as Duane Adrian Johnson), 30, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pled guilty to a first-degree felony murder charge and an agreed-upon sentence of 30 years in prison, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.

McCauley, a 46-year-old actress and yoga instructor never arrived at a Christmas party on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016. According to facts submitted at the plea hearing, McCauley left her home in Northwest Washington and got into her two-door Toyota Scion to drive to a holiday party at a friend's home in Washington, D.C.

McCauley encountered Johnson during the drive to her friend's home, prosecutors said. Johnson got into her car and sexually assaulted McCauley. He attempted to restrain her and she tried to fight him by kicking and punching him. During this struggle, McCauley's clothing was ripped and she suffered a fractured nose, prosectors said.

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Johnson took the scarf McCauley was wearing and strangled her with it. After she died, Johnson took her body and put it in the back seat, prosectors said.

McCauley was reported missing and a widespread search ensued. At about 11:20 p.m. Dec. 26, McCauley's car was found parked in front of a pharmacy in the 2200 block of M Street NW. Police officers went inside the store and found Johnson with McCauley's car keys and credit cards in his pocket, prosecutors said.

A check of the car led to the discovery of McCauley’s body. Johnson was arrested and has remained in custody ever since, prosecutors said.

Yoga District founder Jasmine Chehrazi called McCauley a strong leader and a compassionate, nurturing person.

"She basically embodied the teachings of yoga, which start with ahimsa, which is nonviolence and acts of love," Chehrazi told NBC Washington.

Johnson was arrested six times in D.C. in 2016, according to NBC Washington, and he faced additional charges in surrounding jurisdictions.

Those charges included assault on a police officer, as well as the most recent theft at Meridian PCS and CVS on Dec. 17.

Johnson's sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2017. Johnson will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and will be placed on a period of supervised release after his prison sentence.

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