A probable cause affidavit filed by the Miami Police Department says a social media model and the boyfriend she’s accused of fatally stabbing “had a tempestuous relationship since November of 2020, with multiple incidents of domestic violence from both sides over the period of their relationship.”
The document states that late afternoon on April 3 neighbors began calling security at the One Paraiso Residences luxury apartment building in Miami, where Courtney Taylor Clenney and Christian Obumseli had a condominium.
Clenney — who has 2 million followers on Instagram as well as an OnlyFans page — reportedly called 911 at 4:57 p.m. to inform police Obumseli had suffered a stab wound and was requesting help.
During the call, Obumseli can be heard in the background repeatedly saying he is dying and can’t feel his arm, and Clenney said, “I’m sorry, baby,” the document states.
The 27-year-old Obumseli later died in a Miami hospital.
Clenney, 26, was arrested at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in Hakalau on a no-bail extradition warrant issued in Florida charging her with second-degree murder. Clenney, who was reportedly on the Big Island for rehabilitation for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder, gave police an Austin, Texas, address during booking.
According to the court document, security and staff at the Miami apartment building “documented so many incidents of arguing, including complaints from tenants as far as two floors above the defendant and victim’s unit,” that One Paraiso’s management was preparing to evict the couple.
Clenney, who uses the name Courtney Tailor on social media, was arrested in Las Vegas in July 2021 for domestic battery on Obumseli at the hotel where they were staying, the document states.
Obumseli, a Dallas native, was described by several online sources as an entrepreneur and a social media star and a former account executive for CBS Radio in Dallas.
Clenney reportedly made a statement to police after being read her rights and allegedly told officers she armed herself with a knife after Obumseli shoved her against the wall by her neck, although not choking her, and that he threw her to the ground but allowed her to get up.
The document states an examination of Clenney’s body showed no injuries that would corroborate her account.
The document concludes that Obumseli and Clenney “were in a violent and toxic domestic relationship for over two years” culminating in Clenney fatally stabbing Obumseli “without justification.”
Frank Prieto, Clenney’s Miami attorney, told the Miami Herald that his client stabbed Obumseli in self-defense.
At her initial appearance Friday in Hilo Circuit Court, Clenney waived an extradition hearing.
Deputy Public Defender Patrick Munoz, who represented Clenney during Friday’s hearing — which Prieto watched on Zoom — asked Judge Henry Nakamoto to set bail for Clenney.
“Miss Clenney’s location was known to the state of Florida. It wasn’t hidden, ” Munoz said. “She was here. There was no thought of flight. To do a no-bail warrant — even though this is a very serious charge — I think, is unwarranted. She deserves some bail.”
Deputy Prosecutor Jeff Malate requested the court honor Florida’s no-bail warrant.
“I’ve been in contact with the (Florida) attorney’s office,” Malate said. “Their concern (is) that this defendant has the resources to flee.”
Nakamoto maintained Clenney’s no-bail status “given the serious nature of this case.”
Florida authorities have 30 days to extradite Clenney back to Miami. The Florida state attorney has filed a letter in Hilo Circuit Court stating their intention to do so.
Nakamoto set a status review hearing for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 12. That hearing will be held only if Florida authorities haven’t taken custody of Clenney by then.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.