In a tale that reads like a script from a crime drama, a man dubbed the “TikTok Trickster” stands accused of deceiving women he connected with online, making off with their cars, cash, and other prized possessions through a series of romantic scams.
Brenton Fillers, age 57, was brought back to Baldwin County, Alabama, in custody last Friday to confront charges related to one of his alleged thefts. This latest development marks a significant point in a saga that has left numerous victims in its wake.
The Spanish Fort Police Department has been on Fillers’ trail since an incident in 2023, where he reportedly absconded with a former partner’s car. According to Fox 10, the woman believed Fillers was taking her vehicle in for repairs, only to later discover that he had disappeared, likely crossing state lines with her car.
“It’s unbelievable how many women have fallen prey to this man and the extent of their losses,” the victim expressed, highlighting the widespread impact of Fillers’ alleged schemes.
In a revealing twist, she shared a voicemail with the news outlet, capturing Fillers’ plea for forgiveness—a haunting reminder of the emotional manipulation involved in these crimes.
She shared a chilling voicemail with the outlet where Fillers begged for her forgiveness.
“I love you. I hope you do, too. I don’t want you mad at me over a freaking car. I thought I was doing the right thing but maybe not,” Fillers said in the message.
Mere days before he linked up with the Spanish Fort victim, Fillers allegedly ditched another short-term girlfriend in Texas, but not before allegedly stealing her rental car, credit cards, and a wad of cash, the outlet reported.
One woman in Indiana told Fox 10 that Fillers lived with her for several months before he suddenly vanished. She gave him more than $30,000 for his dubious ailments, including a bleeding ulcer and brain cancer, during their 10-month relationship.
“He gaslit and love-bombed — at my age, I didn’t know these terms really. I felt like an idiot,” she said.
Fillers’ ex-wife, Darla, thought for years that his real name was Brett Knight. He went so far as to take her to a cemetery and showed her a pair of graves belonging to a couple with the last name Knight, who he insisted were his deceased parents.
Brett Knight was just one of more than 30 aliases used by Fillers. He adopted other fake names like Maynard Hatchers, Wayne Bretton and Austin Rikker, according to a years-old offender sheet from a prison sentence in Kentucky.
Fillers was first arrested by University of Kentucky police in 2023. At the time, he had outstanding warrants in Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
He was wanted for various thefts tied to his alleged con — and on an outlying charge for aggravated sexual assault of a child in Texas, according to a UK news release.
It’s not immediately clear why Fillers was released in Kentucky. He was arrested again in North Carolina in January.
His new bond was set at $7,500 on Tuesday. He is scheduled to be arraigned on June 3.
Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber told Fox 10 that he’s pushing to have Fillers’ bond increased because he is a certified flight risk.
Fillers was held on a $100,000 bond in North Carolina.
