Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced that a man was charged with the fatal beating of his former girlfriend, Michelle Annette Avan.
“Ms. Avan was a leader in our community and this senseless act of violence has resulted in a significant loss to us all,” District Attorney Gascón said.
Anthony Duwayne Turner, 52, of Westchester faces one felony count each of murder and first-degree residential burglary.
Arraignment for the case was held Aug. 9 in Department 100 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Van Nuys Branch.
Turner is charged with entering the 48-year-old victim’s home and killing her on Aug. 3 before leaving on Aug. 4. The next day, the victim’s son discovered her body inside the house.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, West Valley Bureau.
Avan, a grandmother and mother of two, had reportedly considered taking out a restraining order against her former boyfriend before her death, according to a KNBC report.
Her son, Trevon Avan, was in court Monday for Turner’s first court appearance.
“My mom was such a beautiful person, just so loving, if there was anything that you needed from her, she would be there,” he said during a press conference, according to KCBS-TV.
Before her death, Avan served as a senior vice president with Bank of America, where she worked to recruit women and other underrepresented employees.
Turner, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, is being held at the Valley jail in Van Nuys on $2 million bond, according to jail records. He is scheduled to return to court by Aug. 16.
