The ex-husband of a woman whose remains were discovered this week was indicted on on murder charges.
Roaa Al-Dhannoon, 24, was reported missing last October. WKYC reported that the mother’s body was found in a buried container along Big Creek in Brooklyn, Ohio, on Monday.
Fahad Mohammed Saeed, 26, her former husband, reportedly told authorities that he believed Al-Dhannoon left for Iraq, where she previously lived. An official told People that the couple immigrated to the United States as refugees about three years ago. They originally lived in California before moving to Ohio.
The pair split a month before Al-Dhannoon disappeared, WKYC also reported. Al-Dhannoon was awarded sole custody of their son during September divorce proceedings.
In February, Saeed was sentenced to six months behind bars for violating a restraining order before his ex-wife vanished. Cleveland.com reported that the 26-year-old was accused of contacting Al-Dhannoon and their then-3-year-old son.
The Lakeland woman told court officials months before her disappearance that she feared Saeed would kidnap their son and kill her, according to court documents acquired by WJW.
The child, who is now 4, is currently in protective custody. The victim’s parents live overseas.
Though authorities haven’t disclosed how exactly Al-Dhannoon died, they determine her death was a homicide, according to People. WJW reported that the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the 24-year-old’s identity by using fingerprints.
On Thursday, an Ohio grand jury indicted Saeed on 15 charges, including aggravated burglary, aggravated murder, kidnapping, murder, abuse of a corpse, and stalking. He has yet to enter a plea.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley told Cleveland.com that he faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
“Throughout this entire investigation, Saeed was extremely confident he would outsmart law enforcement,” O’Malley said this week, according to People. “He was wrong.”
[Featured Image: Lakewood Police]
