Police Arrest Female Suspect in Kidnapping of Ontario Woman Missing for Over a Year

Ontario Provincial Police Det. Sgt. Jason Dinsmore provides additional information on the January 2022 abduction of Elnaz Hajtamiri, during a press conference in Mississauga, Ont., on Jan. 12, 2023. Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have arrested and charged a female suspect believed to be involved in the abduction of Ontario woman Elnaz Hajtamiri, who has been missing since Jan. 12, 2022.

An OPP news release on March 17 indicates that Krystal P. Lawrence, a 30-year-old woman from Brampton, Ont., was arrested and charged with kidnapping on March 16.

The police credited the public with helping to identify Lawrence, following the Feb. 16 release of photos of three suspects and a person of interest in connection with the kidnapping.

Lawrence was released with bail conditions and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Collingwood on May 2, 2023.

An arrest warrant remains outstanding for Deshawn David, a 35-year old Toronto man who is also a suspect in the kidnapping of Hajtamiri.

Ontario Provincial Police have issued a warrant for Deshawn Davis, and are looking to identify a second suspect in the Jan. 12, 2022 kidnapping of Ontario woman Elnaz Hajtamari, who remains missing. Courtesy Ontario Provincial Police Handout

Hajtamari, who also uses the last name Tamiri, was abducted over a year ago by men pretending to be police officers. Police say the woman was forcibly dragged from a relative’s home in Wasaga Beach, Ont., by three men dressed in what appeared to be police gear, but were not legitimate uniforms. They fled in what police believe to be a white Lexus RX sport utility vehicle, taking Hajtamari with them.

Hajtamiri had been hiding with family members after she was repeatedly beaten with a frying pan in an underground parkade in a previous attack on December 2021, just a few weeks before her abduction. She reportedly suffered a head injury that required 40 stitches.

Hajtamiri’s sister, Aysa Hajtamiri, who lives in Melbourne, Australia, told CTV News that Hajtamiri was hiding because her ex-boyfriend had allegedly begun threatening her.

Her former boyfriend, 35-year-old Mohamad Lilo, was charged with abduction in relation to Hajtamiri’s January 2022 disappearance, as well as attempted murder and attempted abduction charges stemming from the assault in December 2021. Two other men were also charged in relation to the parkade assault incident.

The OPP continues to seek the public’s help in identifying a second male suspect. Police believe he is residing in the Greater Toronto Area. Anyone with information about these individuals’ whereabouts is asked to contact the OPP immediately at 1-888-310-1122 or through the dedicated tip line at 1-833-728-3415.

Police are also still trying to identify one, or potentially two, individuals of interest who rented vehicles in December 2021. They are not suspects in the kidnapping, but police would like to speak with them as they may have information related to this case.

The OPP and York Regional Police have jointly offered a $100,000 reward to anyone with information that will help police find Hajtamari.

According to the OPP, Hajtamiri emigrated from Iran to Canada less than five years ago. She is 5’3” tall, and slim, with short black hair that was cut from a longer length before she went missing. The police have published photos of the missing woman and suspected kidnappers.

Anonymous tipsters are invited to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit tips online at ontariocrimestoppers.ca/submit-a-tip.

“Members of the public are strongly urged to help share our message on social media using the hashtag #BringElnazHome,” said OPP spokeswoman Agata Czajkowski.