An arrest warrant has been issued for an individual believed to be involved in the kidnapping of Toronto woman Elnaz Hajtamiri, who has been missing for over a year.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said in a March 8 release that Deshawn Davis, 35, of Toronto, has been identified as a suspect in the abduction of Hajtamiri. Police say tips from the public helped to identify the man.
Last month, on Feb. 16, OPP released photos of three suspects and a person of interest in connection with the crime. On March 8, the police announced they had issued a warrant for Davis’s arrest.
Police are still looking to identify one, or potentially two individuals of interest who rented vehicles in December 2021. They are not suspects in the kidnapping, but police say they would like to speak with them as they may have information related to this case.
The suspects were dressed in police gear, according to the OPP, but not legitimate uniforms. They drove away in what police believe to be a white Lexus RX sport utility vehicle.
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. The woman reportedly suffered a head injury that required 40 stitches.
Her former boyfriend, 35-year-old Mohamad Lilo, was charged with abduction in relation to the woman’s January 2022 disappearance, as well as attempted murder and attempted abduction charges stemming from the December 2021 assault.
Two other men were also charged in relation to the December parkade incident.
A $100,000 reward remains available to anyone with information that will lead to Hajtamiri’s whereabouts.
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.
