In a significant ruling, a Miami judge has allowed state prosecutors to use previously excluded text messages and emails as evidence in the murder trial of OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney. Clenney, 28, faces second-degree murder charges for the April 2022 stabbing death of her boyfriend, Christian “Toby” Obumseli, 27, in their upscale Miami apartment.
The decision, delivered by Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Laura Shearon Cruz, reverses an earlier judgment that excluded the electronic communications, which had been thrown out in a separate case. In that case, Clenney and her parents, Kim and Deborah Clenney, were charged with illegally accessing Obumseli’s computer. However, the charges were dismissed in June after the court ruled that some of the communications were protected under attorney-client privilege.
The prosecution argued that these messages were critical to their case. According to Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Khalil Quinan, while his office could access all of the evidence, the judge has the discretion to review and exclude any materials deemed irrelevant to the murder trial.
Defense attorney Jude Faccidomo, representing Clenney’s parents, challenged the ruling, describing the texts as “broad and vast and very, very private.” He urged the court to block their use, calling it a “slippery slope” for investigations where search warrants fail to target specific evidence linked to the crime. Despite these objections, Judge Shearon Cruz ruled in favor of the state, but agreed to delay the release of the materials until the defense has the opportunity to appeal within 10 days.
Clenney’s Arrest and Defense
Courtney Clenney, who gained widespread fame through her OnlyFans account, was arrested in August 2022—four months after the fatal stabbing. At the time of her arrest, she was in Hawaii undergoing rehabilitation for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her attorneys have maintained that she acted in self-defense during a violent altercation with Obumseli.
Their relationship had been tumultuous, with incidents of domestic violence documented in both Las Vegas and Austin, Texas. On the day of the stabbing, Clenney made a frantic 911 call to Miami police, who took four months to complete their investigation before charging her.
High-Profile Case Captures Public Attention
The case involving the young couple, both of whom lived a glamorous and high-profile lifestyle, quickly became the subject of intense media scrutiny. Clenney, with over 2 million followers on social media, and Obumseli, a successful cryptocurrency trader, had been together for two years. Their relationship, often described as rocky, included several police visits prior to the fatal encounter.
The trial, which has drawn international attention, was even featured in a television special by celebrity news outlet TMZ. Public interest in the case has been fueled by Clenney’s social media fame and the dramatic nature of the allegations against her.
As the trial unfolds, the court’s decision to allow the use of personal communications between Clenney and her family could prove pivotal in determining whether her defense of self-defense will hold up under scrutiny. Prosecutors believe these messages could provide crucial insights into the events leading up to Obumseli’s death.
Courtney Clenney remains in custody as her legal team continues to fight the charges, with the trial date still pending.
