Where is Andre Pugh now? 'NBC Dateline' delves into strip club DJ's evil plot to kill his wife Tiffany
ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Andre Jason Pugh was convicted of orchestrating the horrific murder of his wife, Tiffany Nicole Jackson-Pugh. Following a trial that commenced on September 24, 2018, and concluded on October 5, 2018, Andre received a life sentence. He is presently serving his term at Telfair State Prison.
The Atlanta jury convicted Andre on all counts nearly four years after Tiffany's murder-for-hire. Initially thought to be a result of a home invasion, Tiffany tragically lost her life just moments before law enforcement arrived. The medical examiner's findings revealed that the fatal gunshots were fired at close range.
However, the police officials later discovered that no valuables had been taken from the home, raising suspicions. Reports indicated that the perpetrator had gone directly to Tiffany's room, shot her, and then swiftly departed the crime scene.
In the upcoming episode of 'Dateline NBC' Season 32, host Andrea Canning will delve into the chilling case involving a DJ hiring his best friend to kill his wife in 2014. The episode will explore the details of the tragic incident and expose the circumstances surrounding Tiffany's death. However, the NBC show host will also dig into the subsequent investigation that uncovered the truth.
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Who is Andre Pugh?
Andre Pugh, known professionally as DJ Awesome, worked as a disc jockey at Club Onyx, a strip club where he was arrested alongside his close friend, Adrian Harley. Andre relocated to Atlanta in the early 2000s, initially making a name for himself hosting several radio shows before transitioning to his role at the strip club.
Shockingly, amid marital difficulties, Andre allegedly conspired to orchestrate the murder of his wife, Tiffany Pugh. The security camera from a nearby residence captured footage of the Pugh home, showing a car circling the block around 4:45 am on November 23, 2014. While the CCTV footage didn't distinctly capture an individual or a license plate, the timing of the car's presence coincided with the time of the murder.
During an interview with the detectives, Andre claimed that he was at working Club Onyx when he received a call between 5.30 and 5.45 am informing him that an alarm had gone off at his home.
Andre revealed that he called his wife three times but she didn't answer. According to the report, he rushed to his home and called 911 after finding his slain wife, telling operators that somebody must have broken in. However, the detectives didn't believe his narrative and suspected him of murder.
After the murder, Andre continued to pretend he was innocent and shared his grief in a now-deleted Facebook post. He wrote, "Why did they take my wife?" adding, "I'm trying my best not to cry but seeing you in a state where I'm not used to it hurting me... I miss you love you and want you back so much."
What happened to Andre Pugh after Tiffany's death?
Andre Pugh returned to his regular disc jockey job following his wife Tiffany's tragic death until law enforcement intervened with his arrest. Investigators had their suspicions about Andre's involvement in the murder, particularly heightened by he hid their marital issues. Upon reaching out to Tiffany's close circle, police learned that she had been contemplating divorce from Andre after 11 years of marriage.
After officials questioned Andre, he eventually admitted to the existence of marital problems and their efforts to resolve them. However, the police remained unconvinced by Andre's response and obtained a warrant to search his cell phone. The phone records revealed the details of Andre and Tiffany's turbulent relationship. The text messages revealed that Andre was 'begging' Tiffany not to leave him.
Surprisingly, Andre was in contact with other women when Tiffany was out of town. He was sexting them and exchanging lewd photographs. Investigators delved deeper into the couple's financial records and uncovered that Tiffany was the primary breadwinner in the family. Additionally, it was revealed that Andre was on the brink of losing their house following the divorce proceedings.
Further investigation led to the exposure of Andre's involvement, resulting in his arrest for plotting the murder. Subsequently, the Fulton County jury delivered a verdict of guilty on charges including murder, felony murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Andre was sentenced to life in prison.
What happened to Tiffany Pugh?
Tiffany Pugh was thriving in her career at Delta Airlines when she was murdered by her husband, Andre Pugh. She had been married for 11 years and was a devoted mother to two children, a daughter named Jasmine and a son named AJ.
At the time of Tiffany's untimely passing, Jasmine was 7 years old, and AJ was just 2 years old. She was shot twice, one to her eye and the other to the chest. She suffered two gunshot wounds, one to her eye and the other to her chest. Additionally, a third gunshot was fired, striking a wall.
The police officials found Tiffany fatally shot inside their home in East Point on November 23, 2014. The reports revealed that one of the couple's youngest children was straddling Tiffany's chest 'trying to wake her up' when first responders arrived. The initial investigation suggested that Tiffany's murder was a robbery-gone-wrong incident. However, the evidence later revealed the shocking truth.
Where is Andre Pugh's best friend Adrian Harley?
Andre Pugh's accomplice, his best friend Adrian Harley, assisted in the murder of Tiffany. Adrian remains incarcerated in the Smith State Prison after his trial concluded in Fulton County Superior Court in October 2022. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Adrian faced charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit burglary and murder.
Adrian's involvement came to light after police scrutinized Andre's call records. Investigations revealed that Andre had been in communication with his best friend Adrian mere moments before Tiffany's murder took place. However, when detectives questioned Adrian about his whereabouts on the night of the murder he gave various locations which raised suspicions.
Adrian became defensive and uncooperative when investigators requested access to his cell phone. Interestingly, Adrian's phone records revealed that he was near Tiffany's home at the time of her murder. The police later traced the similarities between Adrian's car and the black vehicle they spotted on the CCTV, which had a light out on the driver's side.
Andre denied his involvement in the murder but claimed that his best friend had confessed the crime to him. He informed the police that Adrian had been murdered due to a financial dispute, alleging that Tiffany owed Adrian money. Subsequently, Adrian was found guilty in court.
Tiffany Pugh's family raises funds for her kids
Tiffany Pugh's family was left devastated by her tragic death, particularly concerned for the well-being of her children, and started a drive to organize a fund. However, Tiffany's brother, Brandon Thomas, shared his grief and noted after her death, "It's hard to imagine that someone would have wanted to take Tiffany out of our lives."
He further noted that Tiffany had "managed to make a positive impact on everyone she's ever met." He added, "Her smile was warm and contagious, her soul was pure with good intentions, and her heart was full of love to share. Tiffany was very ambitious, and there wasn’t a challenge she took on and didn't conquer." He also claimed that Tiffany was a role model for him.
'Dateline NBC' Season 32 airs new episodes every Friday at 8 pm ET on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock the following day.