An Ohio man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for the brutal murders of his pregnant ex-girlfriend and a 16-year-old family friend, a crime prosecutors say was fueled by jealousy and obsession.
Nicole “Nico” Cunigan, 33, was convicted earlier this month on all 10 charges, including four counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault, and one count each of involuntary manslaughter, domestic violence, tampering with evidence, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. The charges stem from the tragic deaths of Precious Taste, 32, her unborn child, and teenager Deante Johnson, 16.
On Friday, a Montgomery County judge sentenced Cunigan to life in prison with the possibility of parole. With credit for just over a year spent in pre-trial detention, Cunigan will not be eligible for parole until 2063.
The crime unfolded in the early morning hours of May 22, 2024, when Cunigan broke into Taste’s home on Shaftesbury Road in Dayton around 6:00 a.m. Armed and fueled by rage, he opened fire, killing Taste—who was approximately 15 weeks pregnant—and Johnson, who was sleeping at the time.
Taste’s 3-year-old twins were also inside the home during the shooting but miraculously escaped unharmed.
“The autopsy determined that Precious Taste had died from multiple gunshots, and that she was approximately 14-15 weeks pregnant,” Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck Jr. confirmed in a press release. “The autopsy of Deante Johnson determined that he too died from multiple gunshots. Further investigation, including witness statements and surveillance video, found that the defendant had entered the residence by pushing in a window, fired multiple shots, and then fled the residence in Ms. Taste’s vehicle.”
Court reports revealed that Taste was shot as she attempted to run down the stairs, while Johnson was discovered lifeless in a bed, hidden beneath blankets.
After the killings, Cunigan went on the run for nearly two months, sparking a widespread manhunt by the U.S. Marshals Service. He was eventually captured in Cleveland, more than 200 miles from the crime scene.
During the trial, prosecutors presented damning evidence of Cunigan’s threatening behavior in the days leading up to the murders.
“There’s a text message, ‘I’m watching your every movement. You better not touch anyone else,'” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Schoen said during closing arguments, highlighting the defendant’s obsessive jealousy.
Despite overwhelming evidence, Cunigan continued to insist on his innocence.
“God don’t put nobody through nothing they can’t handle,” Cunigan told the courtroom. “I’m innocent.”
The sentencing hearing also gave the victims’ loved ones an opportunity to address Cunigan directly.
“All the tough talk that you did, you weren’t good enough to walk away. After she asked you to leave her alone,” said Carl Thomas, Taste’s brother. “Should have just walked away. There are more fish in the sea. You ended your life, hers. You didn’t care about your kids.”
In a final emotional statement, Thomas added: “You took a beautiful soul.”
