The Florida man charged with the murder of Oluwatoyin "Toyin" Salau, a 19-year-old Black Lives Matter protester, admitted to killing her and another woman, police said in court documents reported by local media.
Aaron Glee, 49, has been charged with kidnapping, murder, and sexual assault in the deaths of Salau and 75-year-old Vicki Sims.
"Glee had made voluntary admissions to officers guarding him that he had murdered two women in Tallahassee,” the court documents said, according to the Tallahassee Democrat. “He would also place a telephone call to his mother and make these same admissions.”
Salau, a young Black woman who helped lead the anti–police brutality protests in her community, had previously spoken about being the victim of sexual assault, and her death garnered national attention. Singer Kehlani tweeted about her, rapper Noname sang about her, and vigils around the country have been held to honor her.
According to investigators in the court documents, Glee kidnapped Salau for three to five days, raping and then killing her, after she went missing on June 6.
They met at a bus stop on June 6, where Salau told Glee that she'd been recently sexually assaulted and did not have a permanent place to stay. He invited Salau to his home so she could bathe and rest, according to investigators, and called Sims to pick them up and drive them home. Sims, a volunteer who often prepared meals and provided transportation to Glee, drove them to his house.
According to investigators, Glee raped Salau after she showered.
"Glee said he physically overpowered Salau... He was asked if he would characterize his actions as rape," wrote investigators, as reported by ABC 27. "Glee responded in the affirmative."
Investigators said he then decided to kill Salau because he didn't want to end up behind bars.
"Glee stated that he was aware he would be arrested and likely sentenced to prison if he allowed Salau to leave the residence," said the court documents. "Glee indicated he determined that his only course of action was to end her life."
ABC27 reported that he tied her up so she struggled to breathe. Authorities found Salau's body in Glee's home, "purposely" covered in leaves.
Sims went missing June 11. Her tied-up body, along with Salau's, was found in Glee's home two days later.
Salau had spoken publicly about being sexually assaulted just prior to her death.
She sent me this when she graduated cause her brother had just became a photographer... if you know her fr you know what she’s been through and for her to still support him showed she had no hate in her heart and only wanted peace and love. I love you Toyin.
Police said Glee did not appear to be linked to the initial sexual attack Salau had tweeted about before she went missing.
"At this time, there is no indication that the original battery Salau reported is related to her death," wrote Tallahassee Police Department on Facebook. "The information and description Salau provided to police and posted on social media prior to her disappearance does not match the person ultimately found to be responsible for her murder."
Both women were known for their activism and community-mindedness.
"Each woman was passionate about improving the lives of others," the Tallahassee Police Department wrote. "With Salau protesting for justice and policy change with Movement 850 and Sims serving the elderly with AARP, TPD is committed to upholding the legacies of their service on behalf of others by bringing the person responsible for their murders to justice."