Jewelry store employee arrested 8 years after fleeing the U.S. for the chokehold death of their boss using zip ties.

In a significant development in a long-unsolved murder case, Michael Patrick Desalles, a jewelry store worker, has been extradited back to New York after eight years of evading authorities. He faces charges for the murder of Omid Gholian, the 51-year-old owner of the World of Gold N Diamond store located at Church and Duane Streets in Tribeca. Gholian was discovered dead in the store’s bathroom on February 15, 2017, two days after his family last heard from him.

Desalles, 54, is accused of strangling Gholian with two zip ties and then fleeing to Mauritius, his native country, shortly after the incident. In court documents, it is alleged that Desalles purchased a plane ticket to Mauritius just three hours following the attack, departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport that same evening. His swift exit raised suspicions among investigators.

The investigation into Gholian’s death revealed that he suffered noticeable trauma, including bruising and a gash on his head. Despite the violent circumstances of his death, there were no indications that the jewelry store had been ransacked or that any items had been stolen. Following the murder, Gholian’s family grew concerned when they were unable to reach him, prompting them to check his store, where police ultimately discovered his body.

Jacob Gholian, the victim’s brother, expressed relief that justice may be served, acknowledging the toll that the incident has taken on the family. Although he was aware Desalles had become a suspect early in the investigation, Jacob was unaware of the suspect’s whereabouts until recently. He described Desalles as having been regarded as part of their family during his long tenure at the jewelry store, which made the allegations even more shocking.

After a lengthy judicial process, Desalles was recently arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court. Prosecutors have emphasized their commitment to justice for Gholian’s family. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg expressed hope that the victim’s loved ones could find solace in the impending legal proceedings against Desalles.

The Gholian family, deeply affected by the tragedy, ultimately decided to close the jewelry store, marking the end of an era for them. Jacob articulated the emotional weight of walking through the store following the incident, highlighting the profound grief experienced by the family still reverberating years after the murder. Desalles is being held without bail as pre-trial proceedings unfold.