Amari Nicholson Murdered by Mom's Boyfriend

Summary: Two-year-old Amari Nicholson was murdered by his mother’s boyfriend on May 5, 2021. Tayler Nicholson, Amari’s mother, left the toddler with him on April 30th while she traveled to Colorado. Rhodes initially told police that a strange woman picked up the boy from his apartment. During interrogation, however, Rhodes admitted that he hit the boy with a closed fist several times on May 5th, causing his death. Rhodes is currently awaiting trial in a Las Vegas jail.

Story

On May 5, 2021, Tayler Nicholson called Las Vegas Police to report that her son, two-year-old Amari Nicholson, had been kidnapped from her boyfriend’s apartment home. Tayler was in Colorado when she phoned police after Rhodes called her a few minutes before saying that a strange woman picked up the boy from his apartment. On April 30, 2021, Tayler left Amari her boyfriend, 27-year-old Terrell Rhodes while she traveled to the neighboring state.

He told Tayler as well as police and news reporters that he had never before seen the woman who came to his apartment to pick up Amari and did not know who she was.

Rhodes said he was expecting someone to come by.

"I mean from my knowledge I already, was told like, somebody was going to stop by. Somebody was going to, but I never knew who. So I still had that in my headset somebody was coming by," Rhodes said.

(So we just give babies away to anyone who knocks on the door now?)

Rhodes was stuttering and obviously nervous as he told reporters this wack -ass story.

Tayler says she and Rhodes had an argument over the phone on May 3rd. She told detectives that Rhodes said the relationship was over at that time. She had not spoken to Rhodes since this phone call until he called on May 5th to say that Amari was missing.

Rhodes Denies Involvement

Rhodes denied any involvement with the boy’s disappearance. Police launched a nationwide search for Amari. They searched homes in las Vegas and Colorado, as well as the apartment of Terrell Rhodes. When police found blood on the wall in Rhodes home, they took him to the police department for questioning.

Police asked Rhodes to submit to a polygraph test, to which he obliged. Once the test was complete, Rhodes admitted that he had killed Amari after the boy urinated on himself. He then hid the body. Police found Amari’s body one week after he was reported missing.

Rhodes Hit Amari With a Closed Fist

Police reports state that Rhodes hit Amari with a closed fist “three or four times” during the early morning hours of May 5th inside his Emerald Suits apartment. Amari’s face turned blue and he stopped breathing. Rhodes attempted to perform CPR on Amari, but the toddler died from his injuries. He then hid Amari’s body. Searchers found Amari’s body one week later.

Rhodes was arrested, charged with first-degree murder. A Las Vegas judge denied bail for Rhodes.

Rhodes Grabbed Police Gun

During interrogation, Rhodes began screaming “let me out of here. I can’t go back.” At this time, Rhodes's right hand was handcuffed to the table, but his left hand was free.

Police were out of the room at the time. They entered the interrogation room to calm Rhodes down, at which time he lunged at the officers and grabbed a gun out of one of the officer’s holsters. At this time, Rhodes was saying “I want to die” and “I’m gonna kill a motherfucker.”

The officers struggled briefly with Rhodes before gaining control over the weapon. Rhodes now faces eight additional charges related to this incident: four charges of assault on a protected person with a deadly weapon for this incident.

Prior Child Services Report

Child Protective Services received a report of alleged abuse against Amari Nicholson in the past year. CPS responded to the reports but closed the case without additional action after an investigation.

Resources & Additional Case Information:

Facebook Page for Amari: https://www.facebook.com/events/135294625286961/?hc_location=ufi

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/12/us/las-vegas-missing-amari-nicholson-charges/index.html

https://www.fox5vegas.com/news/report-man-accused-in-amari-nicholsons-killing-grabbed-detectives-gun-while-in-custody/article_dfb88560-b764-11eb-b303-4b59b1eee87c.html