An Illinois father, Mohammed Almaru, 44, who admitted to “losing his mind” and brutally beating his 17-year-old daughter to death in a shocking act of violence, is set to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Almaru was sentenced to 55 years on Thursday for the murder of Mia Maro in their Tinley Park home in May 2022.
A jury found Almaru guilty of first-degree murder in August after less than an hour of deliberations, confirming his conviction in the violent crime that left his family and community shattered.
On May 1, 2022, Mia’s aunt made the grim discovery of her niece’s body, she was covered in bruises prosecutors said Mia had been viciously attacked with a rubber mallet and a metal pole, both of which were found bloodied inside the home.
According to reports, the mallet was located in the garage, while the bent metal pole lay on the kitchen floor.
When authorities arrived, they found Almaru near his daughter’s body, suffering from self-inflicted wounds after an apparent suicide attempt involving pills.
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He had also sent a confession via text message to a family member, where he admitted his guilt, stating, “I lost my mind, went out of control and beat the s— out of her.” His message ended with a remorseful acknowledgment: “I f—ed up big time, I’m sorry.”
The murder reportedly occurred just days after Almaru revoked Mia’s permission to attend her high school prom. Court records revealed that he had gone through her phone and found messages that triggered his distrust, ultimately leading to his tragic decision.
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Mia had expressed fear for her life in the days before the fatal incident. She texted her relatives, voicing concerns that her father might “beat her” or even “kill her” due to her involvement in a minor car accident.
Mia’s aunt, Randa Almaru, described the 17-year-old as “a beautiful soul” and “the light of our lives” in a heartfelt GoFundMe tribute. Mia was not only an exceptional daughter but also played a vital role in caring for her incapacitated mother, who had been in a vulnerable state for the past three years.
Randa’s statement painted a picture of a loving and dedicated young woman who was tragically taken from those who cared deeply for her.
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Although Almaru will receive credit for the two years he has already served in custody, his sentence will span the remainder of his life. The judge ruled that he must serve the entirety of the 55-year sentence.
After the verdict was read, Almaru’s legal team requested both a new trial and a reconsideration of the sentence, but these motions were swiftly denied.
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