Warrant: Murder victim 'tortured' before death

The News Star

Editor's note: A mistrial was declared in Mississippi on Oct. 16, 2017 and Oct. 1, 2018. Read about what will happen with the Monroe murder case in our latest story:

More:Decision on Monroe murder charges delayed as Mississippi jury hangs again

ULM alumna Ming-Chen Hsiao was tortured for her debit card's personal identification number, according to a warrant filed in July 2016 in 4th Judicial District Court.

Quinton Tellis faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with the case. He is currently in custody in DeSoto County, Mississippi, awaiting a July 15 arraignment on a capital murder charge associated with the 2014 burning death of Jessica Chambers.

Panola County District Attorney John Champion said his office received the warrant to be served to Tellis, and the charge will not affect the scheduled arraignment or trial.

Hsiao died the evening of July 29 after being stabbed over 30 times, according to the warrant. It is believed superficial cuts and slices were used to inflict pain until the victim provided her PIN number.

"...He (Tellis) tortured and robbed Ming-Chen Hsiao of her Chase Bank Debit Card, from which he had a substantial financial gain," the warrant states. "After gaining possession of the debit card, he brutally murdered her by repeatedly stabbing her and letting her body rot and decompose until being discovered."

Tellis pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized use of an access (debit) card May 12 in 4th Judicial District Court immediately before a jury trial was scheduled to begin on the charge and one count possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. The basis for the plea states that on Aug. 18-19, Tellis took an access card belonging to Hsiao and used it without authorization to withdraw at least $1,000.

The deal saw the possession with intent charge severed from the agreement but not dismissed. Tellis was charged as a habitual offender and waived an extradition hearing to return to Mississippi.

In the murder charge warrant, phone calls to the Chase Bank number printed on the back of Hsiao's debt card are reported in an attempt to connect Tellis to the crime scene at the time of Hsiao's death.

Tellis was visible on Wal-Mart security footage with Hsiao on July 28. At 4:30 p.m. the next day, Hsiao made an ATM withdrawal of $20 after being taken to the bank by a friend. A phone call Hsiao made at 5:22 p.m., to secure a ride to church, was the last reported activity on her phone until after 8 p.m.

Two times at 8:16 p.m., Hsiao's phone dialed the Chase Bank number and hung up before the call was answered. At 8:16 and 8:18 p.m., Quinton Tellis' phone dialed the same number, and the debit card number and PIN were entered.

According to the warrant, GPS records indicate Tellis' phone plotted within 60 meters of Hsiao's apartment at the time of the calls.

On Aug. 1, a $400 withdrawal from the card occurred in Vicksburg. GPS records said Tellis' phone was in Vicksburg at the time of the withdrawal. Tellis was also captured on ATM photos making later withdrawals from the card.

When officers searched Tellis' residence, they discovered a pair of white shoes located in an outdoor storage shed had been spray painted white. The warrant states that under the white paint the dark staining of suspected blood was present. However, the substance could not be verified as blood because the shoes had been washed prior to being painted.

Assistant District Attorney Neal Johnson said Tellis would not return to Louisiana to face the charges or an indictment until the conclusion of his case in Mississippi because of the extradition agreement. A warrant for Tellis' arrest was not filed until he had returned to DeSoto County to face charges related to Chambers' death.

Chambers died after being doused with gasoline and set on fire in a car on Dec. 6, 2014. She was found on the road with burns over most of her body. Her car was burned beyond recognition, with any useful evidence that might have been inside destroyed.

Due to his status as a habitual offender, Tellis was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor following his May plea. He faces a life sentence if convicted of Chambers' murder.

Follow Ashley Mott Reporter on Facebook for the latest updates.

Clarion-Ledger reporter Therese Apel contributed to this report.

READ MORE: The News-Star coverage on Quinton Tellis