Another illegal immigrant murder case

LAKE COUNTY, FLA. — Murder investigations are not normally “routine,” but the discovery of a woman’s body is another hot-button example of an alleged illegal immigrant committing a heinous crime.  

Fifth Circuit State Attorney Bill Gladson, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell held a press conference Wednesday to announce the grand jury indictment of 44-year-old Shahidul Islam on first-degree murder with a firearm charges.

Monica Islam’s body was spotted by a delivery driver near Wolf Branch Road and Scenic Hills Drive, Mount Dora on May 2, 2025.

“No family should ever have to endure the pain of such a senseless and horrific act of violence as this one,” said Ingoglia.

“Shahidul Islam illegally entered our country after being deported, committed this heinous crime, and then fled to a sanctuary city.”  Florida will continue to stand firm against violent crime, sanctuary cities and illegal immigration and we will never apologize for putting the safety of law-abiding families first.

He praised Gladson, Grinnell and all the law enforcement officers who worked on the case.

“This sends a clear message: if you commit a violent crime in Florida, we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will pursue the fullest extent of the law.”

Monica’s daughter reported that the two had gone to her workplace at a store that morning when her mother walked out to talk on the phone and disappeared.

Court records said she had been the victim of a domestic violence attack in 2024 at the hands of Islam’s brother, Rashedul Islam, who hit her with a rope and took her jewelry.

The daughter showed police a video of Rashedul rtrying to stab Monica with a knife, according to the probable cause affidavit.

He was never convicted, but there is a warrant for his arrest for battery.

Federal authorities believe Rashedul is now in Pakistan.

In the same report, Shahidul is suspected of pointing a gun at Monica’s head when she threatened to call 911.

Federal authorities say they have evidence that Shahidul entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico, using various aliases including a fake Pennsylvania driver’s license.  

Detectives found surveillance video near the store that showed Monica getting into a car. They traced the registration of the car to a woman who had dated Shahidul . She said he returned the car, remarking that the passenger side window was broken. Crime scene technicians found traces of blood that matched Monica’s DNA.

The woman said she drove him to a rental car company for a replacement vehicle. The company, using an installed GPS device, tracked him to New York City where U.S. Marshals arrested him on a murder warrant.

Investigators also used license plate reader data to put him in the vicinity of where her body was discovered. Others recovered two cell phones at the girlfriend’s house.

Gladson said his office will seek the death penalty.