A man from Mississauga has been apprehended in Texas and is now facing charges linked to an assault on Elnaz Hajtamiri, a Mississauga woman who went missing in 2022. The 25-year-old individual is charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit a serious offense and is currently in custody in York Region, as per a recent news release by York police. The U.S. Marshals Service arrested him in Texas in August and subsequently extradited him to Canada for prosecution.
Authorities allege that the man was involved in an attack against Hajtamiri that occurred prior to her abduction. In December 2021, Hajtamiri was assaulted and struck with a frying pan in an underground parking garage in Richmond Hill. She sustained non-life-threatening injuries and a head wound requiring 40 stitches before the suspects fled the scene. Several weeks later, in January 2022, three individuals disguised as police officers broke into her relative’s residence in Wasaga Beach and abducted her. They fled in a white Lexus SUV, and Hajtamiri has not been seen since, with law enforcement presuming her to be deceased.
A tip from the public led authorities to the suspect in Texas, according to Const. Lisa Moskaluk, a spokesperson for York Regional Police. She emphasized the importance of any information, no matter how small, in potentially uncovering further evidence related to the case. To date, eight individuals, including Hajtamiri’s ex-boyfriend, have been arrested in connection with the December attack. Police suspect that those involved in the assault may also be linked to the kidnapping or possess knowledge about the perpetrators.
While the investigation is ongoing, Moskaluk mentioned that having the suspect in custody may assist in identifying additional suspects. She highlighted the continuous possibility of new information emerging in the case. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Hajtamiri’s whereabouts, and York police urge anyone with relevant details to reach out to them or Crime Stoppers.
