Lia Tricomo, John Alkins: Violinist’s Sex, Torture Murder Of Counselor On ID

The story of Lia Tricomo, a troubled and violent violin player-turned-killer, will air on Forbidden: Dying for Love, a crime documentary series on Investigation Discovery. The Forbidden: Dying for Love episode titled “Therapy On Ice” will re-enact the events that led to the death of John Alkins, a well-respected mental health counselor in Olympia, Washington. Authorities say that when John Alkins blurred the lines between patient and sex partner, it led to his gruesome death.

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Mental Health Counselor Found Dead In Beachfront Home, Throat Slashed After Sex

When police arrived at the beachfront home in Olympia that spring day in 2013, they had no idea what a horrific scene they would encounter. Just inside lay the body of a mental health counselor who would have had quite a story to tell — if he were alive to tell it.

The victim was identified as 58-year-old John Alkins, a former counselor for Washington State Behavioral Health Resources. He was lying face down in a pool of blood. There was a cord around his neck, and he was tied up. His neck had also been cut, according to the book Murder in Washington: Notorious Crime Sites: The Topography of Evil by Marques Vickers.

Right away, it looked like a sex killing. And from the looks of it, he was also tortured before his death. By that time, investigators already knew who committed the crime: the woman who had confessed at an AA meeting. Authorities learned that 27-year-old Lia Yera Tricomo, the killer, was a mentally disturbed former patient of John Alkins.

Woman says she killed ex-counselor because 'he was a creep': Lia Tricomo, 27, was arrested Tuesday after calli… http://t.co/Epi8PWTSzu

— HEALTH_SOURCES (@HEALTH_SOURCES) May 3, 2013

Respected Counselor Lost It All

For more than 20 years, John Alkins worked as a social worker and counselor in behavioral health. He lost his job after it was discovered that he had crossed professional lines with Lia Tricomo.

After his dismissal, he allowed Lia Tricomo to move into his home on Sunset Beach Drive. What was strange was that the insightful counselor knew full well that Lia Tricomo had severe mental problems. He also knew that there was a violent component to her behavior.

Sadly, John Alkins allowed his feelings and his desire for sex with her to cloud his judgment and emotions. Although he didn’t deserve to die for it, allowing Lia Tricomo into his personal life and into his home was a grave mistake.

According to Lia Tricomo, who ended up confessing the next morning, she sliced John Alkins’ throat, then watched him stumbled around the house as he tried to help himself. After making an attempt to flee his home, Lia Tricomo strangled the already weak man to death. The Olympian gives more details.

“Tricomo told detectives that after she moved into Alkins’ home, he bought her a bottle of vodka and they began drinking that afternoon. The two began having sexual contact that evening. Tricomo said the contact was unwanted, but she never told Alkins ‘no.’ The couple moved to the master bedroom, where Tricomo tried to tie Alkins up. He declined, and she slit his throat with a razor and eventually strangled him with a green extension cord. She told detectives that she hid the razor in the room in the hopes of killing Alkins.”

Lia then finished her vodka before falling asleep. The next morning, she left the beach home, tried to get money out of Alkins’ account, then headed to an AA meeting, where she confessed to the killing.

Lia Tricomo and John Alkins connected over their love for music. Lia was a talented classical violinist, and John was an accomplished musician and piano player, as stated in his obituary found at Funeral Alternatives.

“‘Brother John’ was born July 17, 1954 in La Marque, Texas. His music enlightened many people with his performances, sound tracks and recordings. He was active in international music organizations and a pioneer in bringing world-class musicians to Olympia. He graduated from Walla Walla High School in 1972 and The Evergreen State College in 1976, majoring in music ethnology. He was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Walla Walla, WA, and lifelong member of the youth group ‘Croutons.'”

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Lia told Thurston County investigators that she killed John Alkins because he was a creep.

For the murder of John Alkins, Lia Tricomo was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison. A photo of him can be found on Facebook. The sex aspect of John Alkins’ death reminds one of the Jodi Arias case. Black Atlanta executive Lance Herndon was also killed in his bed after sex with his Jamaican lover, Dionne Baugh.

Forbidden: Dying for Love airs tomorrow on ID. Check your local listings for exact times.

[Featured Image by Mark Winfrey/Shutterstock]