BofA banker charged with murder in Michelle Avan's death

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.