A Bank of America Corp. executive was charged Monday with the brutal murder and fatal beating of Merrill Lynch & Co. veteran Michelle Avan.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Avan, a victim of domestic violence, was the former girlfriend of Anthony Turner, 53.
Turner worked in Bank of America's commercial banking division in Los Angeles and focused on large businesses.
On August 3, Turner is charged with entering the 48-year-old victim’s home and killing her before leaving on Aug. 4, according to a statement on Monday by the District Attorney's office. The next day, the victim’s son discovered her body inside the house.
Turner faces one felony count each of murder and first-degree residential burglary, according to the District Attorney, and the case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.
Turner pleaded not guilty yesterday in arraignment, according to a spokesperson for the District Attorney's office, and his next court date is August 16.
According to his BrokerCheck profile, Turner was registered for only a few months with Merrill Lynch in 2005 and then again in 2016 before starting his employment at BofA Securities in 2019.
It is not clear how Avan and Turner initially met or when they dated.
Described as a community leader by Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon, Avan recently became head of global women’s and under-represented talent strategy, global human resources for the bank, where she was responsible for its comprehensive strategy and efforts to attract, hire and retain diverse talent across the company.
"We are devastated by the news," a Merrill Lynch spokesperson said in a statement. "Michelle was a valued member of our company for more than 20 years and will be greatly missed. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family."
She was a recipient of Bank of America’s Global Diversity & Inclusion award as well as a co-chair of the company’s Black Executive Leadership Council business initiative. She also won a 2021 InvestmentNews Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award.
Looking to refine your strategy for investing in stocks in the US market? Discover expert insights, key trends, and risk management techniques to maximize your returns
The RIA led by Merrill Lynch veteran John Thiel is helping its advisors take part in the growing trend toward fee-based annuities.
Driven by robust transaction activity amid market turbulence and increased focus on billion-dollar plus targets, Echelon Partners expects another all-time high in 2025.
The looming threat of federal funding cuts to state and local governments has lawmakers weighing a levy that was phased out in 1981.
The fintech firms' new tools and integrations address pain points in overseeing investment lineups, account monitoring, and more.
RIAs face rising regulatory pressure in 2025. Forward-looking firms are responding with embedded technology, not more paperwork.
As inheritances are set to reshape client portfolios and next-gen heirs demand digital-first experiences, firms are retooling their wealth tech stacks and succession models in real time.
