Police are on the hunt for a man who allegedly murdered a professional opera singer and music professor in her Colorado Springs apartment.
Haleh Abghari, a 54-year-old voice instructor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, was found dead in August of an apparent stab wound.
Colorado Springs police have now identified their suspect as Ceasar Lorenzo Wilson, 53, and announced second-degree murder charges against him.
Wilson has not yet been located and is considered “armed and dangerous.” Police told the public not to approach him, per a press release.
Police received an unknown call for help on the morning of August 7, which took them to Abghari’s home. She was found with at least one stab wound.
On August 12, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy, but the findings have not been released. Police are investigating her death as a homicide.
Police did not comment on whether Abghari and Wilson knew each other.
Born in Iran, Abghari was an acclaimed singer, actor and voice-over artist who performed in plays and created her own original compositions throughout her decades-long career.
Haleh Abghari was murdered in her apartment in August. Police found her with at least one stab wound
Ceasar Lorenzo Wilson, pictured in an undated security camera photo, is a suspect in Abghari’s murder. He is still at large
According to her University of Colorado, she was a skilled singer of not only opera but also cabaret songs, contemporary music and more biography page.
In 2007, she became the first woman to ever play King George III, Britain’s king during the American Revolution, in Peter Maxwell Davies’ monodrama “Eight Songs for a Mad King.”
Shortly after her death, friends of Abghari’s family founded a GoFundMe to raise money for their “devoted daughter, sister, friend, artist, teacher, advocate and so much more.”
“Haleh’s life was a testament to her passion for art, human rights and her dedication to her family and friends. She leaves behind a legacy of courage, creativity and deep connections with those who knew her,” the fundraiser said.
To date, the GoFundMe has raised more than $40,000 toward its $50,000 goal.
A writer for the university’s school newspaper, The writerwrote a moving memorial piece for Abghari, describing her as an honest, compassionate fighter for social justice.
Abghari’s list of achievements is numerous. Her performances have appeared at the Montalvo Center for the Arts in California, along with the Whitney Museum and the Guggenheim Museum, both in New York City.
“Haleh was one of the most genuine teachers I have ever had, and one of the artists I admire most,” student Ellie Myers wrote on August 26. “She never failed to contact us and did not hesitate to provide feedback when we needed it. A compliment from Haleh was gold, a criticism was a seed for growth, and she put her heart into both.”
Abghari’s list of achievements is numerous. Her performances have appeared at the Montalvo Center for the Arts in California, along with the Whitney Museum and the Guggenheim Museum, both in New York City.
She has performed as a guest soloist and recorded with many different ensembles and music groups.
She received her training at the University of California at Davis, Peabody Conservatory, The Mannes College of Music and the Banff Center for the Arts in Canada.
According to her website, she was an original member of Mouths Wide Open, a group of artists formed in 2002 to oppose the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and later Iraq.