A Florida man faces murder, kidnapping and other charges Monday after allegedly assaulting his parents, killing his girlfriend and kidnapping his 8-year-old daughter, Florida authorities said.
According to the Largo Police Department, officers responded to the Clearwater Police Department around 3:15 a.m. Monday to assist in the search for 34-year-old Renato Muhaji after receiving a report that he was involved in a felony assault. responded to the report.
When officers arrived at the scene on Clearwater-Lago Road North, they found Suela Sariaji dead and her 8-year-old daughter missing.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by FOX 13 in Tampa; Police found blood stains, a knife and bloody brass knuckles outside Sariaj’s apartment.
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Renat Muhazi was arrested on suspicion of using brass knuckles and a knife to kill his ex-girlfriend and then kidnapping his 8-year-old daughter. (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)
Police said Sariaji was found with his throat cut and covered in blood.
An Amber Alert was immediately issued for the 8-year-old girl, and both police departments, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) worked together to search for the girl.
Hours later, Muhazi was found in a car near St. Paul’s Drive and taken into custody. His daughter, an 8-year-old girl, was also found and taken into custody without injury, police said.
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Largo Police Chief Mike Lew held a press conference Monday morning regarding the arrest of Renato Muhaji, who is suspected of killing his ex-girlfriend and kidnapping her 8-year-old daughter. (Largo Police Department / Facebook)
Police said the incident began around 2:30 a.m. when Muhaji assaulted his parents and threatened them with a machete as they hugged each other with their eyes closed, fearing for their lives.
During the ordeal, Muhaji allegedly took away the parents’ mobile phones, and they were unable to call for help, although one was able to escape and call the police.
According to the police report, the child told police that he saw Muhaji hit Sariaji multiple times in the bedroom with a knife and brass knuckles, according to a written statement.
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According to the affidavit, the girl told police she knew Sariaji was dead and asked Muhaji, “Why would you do that?”
Her response was, “I really wanted her to die.”
After killing Sariaji, Muhaji took the girl from her apartment and pushed her down the stairs, causing her to fall, according to the affidavit. The girl told police the man dragged her across the concrete as he tried to get her into his car, which left her with bruises and scrapes, she said.
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Muhaji was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, child abuse, aggravated assault, witness tampering, and four additional criminal charges.
He is currently being held in the Pinellas County Jail.
