Missing Yoga Teacher Found Dead in Car on M Street; Suspect in Custody

Actress and yoga instructor Tricia Lynn McCauley, 46, of D.C.’s Bloomingdale neighborhood, was found dead in her car early this morning, Dec. 27. A suspect was arrested just after midnight after McCauley’s car was spotted near the CVS at 2240 M St. NW in the West End by a person walking a dog. The suspect has now been identified as Adrian Duane Johnson, 29. He has been charged with first-degree murder.

At a press conference this morning, interim Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham said the suspect, who was not thought to have known McCauley, was alleged to have stolen items and attacked employees at a CVS in the 400 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW downtown yesterday morning, Dec. 26. A timeline showing sightings of the carjacked vehicle, apparently occupied by the victim, was displayed at the press conference.

McCauley — who did voiceover work, acted in productions by the Washington Stage Guild, Theater J, Imagination Stage and other area companies and was a stand-in for Jenna Dewan Tatum in the 2006 film, “Step Up,” — failed to arrive at a friend’s Christmas dinner after telling him she was on her way, then missed a flight to see relatives yesterday. A Facebook page about her disappearance had been created.

The circumstances of the fatal encounter were unclear this morning. An autopsy was performed to determine the cause of death, which has now been reported as strangulation. Earlier, Newsham had said that trauma was visible on McCauley’s body.

Anyone who saw the car, a white, two-door Toyota Scion hatchback, or the suspect (see photo) is asked to contact police.

A vigil to celebrate Tricia Lynn McCauley’s life was to begin at 5:15 p.m. tonight, Dec. 27, at Yoga District Bloomingdale, 1830 1st St. NW, where she taught. At 6:15 p.m., there will be a procession to the park at 3rd and Elm Street NW — where McCauley gardened and was an herbalist at Common Good City Farm — for a second vigil at 7 p.m., DCist reported.