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Brother-in-law arrested in killing of Eustis mother, deputies say
Four months after 39-year-old Monica Islam was found shot to death along a roadside in Mount Dora, Lake County deputies say they have arrested her brother-in-law in connection with the crime.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Detectives in Lake County have secured an arrest warrant in the killing of a woman found dead along a roadside in Mount Dora earlier this year.
What we know:
Four months after 39-year-old Monica Islam was found shot to death along a roadside in Mount Dora, Lake County deputies say they have arrested her brother-in-law in connection with the crime.
Shahidul Islam, 44, of Longwood, has been charged in connection with her May 2 death. Monica’s body was discovered that morning by a passerby near Wolf Branch Road and Scenic Hills Drive.
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Sheriff’s officials said Shahidul Islam was tracked to New York in the days following the May killing and taken into custody with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service. Investigators said he rented a car on the day of the shooting and left Florida soon after.
He is currently being held on a federal charge of illegal re-entry into the United States.
Victim previously reported abuse
Dig deeper:
Investigators say Monica had previously reported being a victim of domestic violence in December 2024. In that case, her husband, Rashedul Islam, allegedly struck her and stole jewelry and property paperwork tied to a dispute over land in Bangladesh. Detectives said Shahidul pointed a gun at her during the same incident, warning her not to call 911.
Rashedul fled the country before he could be arrested, while Shahidul — who had been previously deported — was found to be back in the U.S. illegally.
Suspect captured in New York
Detectives used license plate reader technology to track Shahidul to a home in Sanford, but he fled the area just after Monica’s murder, investigators said.
He was later captured by the U.S. Marshals Service in New York on May 6 on a federal immigration warrant and has remained in federal custody since.
What they're saying:
Deputies have not released a motive but said the earlier domestic conflict involved a property dispute in Bangladesh.
"We believe wholeheartedly that Monica Islam’s brother, Shahidul Islam, committed the murder," Capt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said. "We don’t want him deported. We want him to come back here and be held accountable for Monica’s murder."
Monica Islam’s daughter, Rimi, told reporters in May that she was clinging to hope amid her grief.
"I do know I’m going to get some good news soon," she said at the time.
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What's next:
Authorities said Shahidul will be served with the homicide warrant and extradited back to Lake County once federal immigration proceedings are complete. The case remains under investigation.
The Source: The information in this article comes from a report shared by the Lake County Sheriff's Office.