Cleveland woman sentenced to life for murder of CSU professor – The Cauldron
Todd Morgan, late associate professor who began teaching at CSU’s Monte Ahuja College of Business in 2021, was killed in April 2023. | Photo Credit: Cleveland State University
32-year-old Terreionna Paschal was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of late CSU Associate Professor Todd Morgan on Thursday, Sept. 19.
Having pleaded guilty to aggravated murder a day prior, Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison laid down her sentence, which includes the possibility of parole after 23 years. According to a statement by the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, she will be placed on the state’s violent offender registry.
Pascal and Morgan had matched and chatted on Bumble a few days prior to the murder on April 29, 2023, with Morgan inviting Paschal over to his house. At around 7 a.m. the next morning, Morgan sent Paschal $50 on CashApp. Minutes later, Morgan was dead after being shot seven times in his own home.
Reports say that witnesses described a light-colored car leaving Morgan’s home and a person matching Paschal’s description leaving the scene on the day of the murder. The police found evidence of used cigars with Paschal’s DNA and bloody footprints trailing out the back door.
“I’m very sorry,” Paschal said to Morgan’s family during court proceedings, “and I hope that one day you can find it in your hearts to forgive me.”
Police were only made aware upon conducting a welfare check at his home after he failed to pick up his four-year-old daughter from school. It was then that they found him shot dead in the head and torso.
“He died for nothing,” Morgan’s mother said to Paschal. “You didn’t even know him. You took the father from two beautiful children.”
Todd Morgan was a two-time alumnus of CSU, having graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s in business administration in 2004 and 2006, respectively. He additionally earned a Ph.D. in business administration from Kent State University in 2015. Before joining the CSU faculty in 2021 as an associate professor in the Monte Ahuja College of Business, he taught at various institutions such as the University of Massachusetts and Western Michigan University.
“Todd was known in our CSU community as a kind, dedicated colleague and a skilled educator,” said CSU President Laura Bloomberg, Ph.D., upon news of his death last year. “He was well liked and respected by students, appreciated for his down-to-earth demeanor, and very well regarded by those who guided him in his own career.”
Students and faculty experiencing difficulty with this loss are encouraged to access resources available on campus. Students have access to free and confidential 24/7 counseling services via the CSU Counseling Center by calling (216) 687-2277.