Elnaz Hajtamiri: Ex-boyfriend charged with first-degree murder regarding her disappearance

3 min readNov 24, 2023

Almost two years after Elnaz Hajtamiri vanished from her family’s home, her ex-boyfriend has been charged with first-degree murder, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) spokesperson Agata Czajkowski announced in a statement.

On Jan. 12, 2022, three men in police uniforms burst into the Wasaga Beach home where Elnaz was staying, dragged her out into the snow, and disappeared in what police describe as a white, 2016 to 2022 model Lexus RX 350 SUV.

Three weeks prior, on Dec. 20, 2021, three men ambushed Hajtamiri with frying pans in the underground parking garage of her Richmond apartment building, an attack police believe to be a botched kidnapping, the OPP say. Hajtamiri fled to her family member’s home in Wasaga Beach to seek refuge.

Police originally charged 34-year-old Mohamad Lilo with kidnapping. Lilo and Elnaz ended their relationship in October 2021, after which Lilo hired a private investigator to follow Elnaz. Nine days after she disappeared, Lilo was charged with harassing her.

Elnaz Hajtamiri (Family’s Twitter account)

The owner of Investigations Plus Ltd, Gabriel Cojocaru, confirmed to CBC that Lilo hired them in early December 2021. Lilo allegedly told Cojocaru that Hajtamiri robbed him and was involved in other criminal activity, but none of this has been confirmed and police have said they don’t believe Elnaz Hajtamiri to be associated or guilty of any criminal activity, and believe she is innocent of any wrongdoing.

One source told CBC that on January 10 and 11, while Hajtamiri was staying with relatives at the Wasaga Beach home, the firm had conducted surveillance outside the home. According to the source, the investigator was called off on January 12, the day Hajtamiri was abducted. The private investigator watched the home on the day of the abduction, but ended his shift at around 6 p.m. to get food and take his insulin for his diabetes, CBC reports.

The abduction happened at about 8:30 p.m. No trace of Elnaz has been seen since, and police have remain tight-lipped as to details behind the numerous arrests. A publication ban prevents any leaks of evidence presented in court.

Cojocaru told CBC that the investigator being called off right before the abduction was a coincidence. He added that he was blindsided by the abduction, and has cooperated with police.

“The investigation remains active and ongoing. The OPP continues to investigate in order to find out what happened to Elnaz and to provide answers to her family,” Czajkowski said, reminding the public that the $100,000 reward for any information regarding this case. She wouldn’t confirm whether the OPP discovered evidence that Elnaz might be dead, either.

Elnaz Hajtamiri is a 37-year-old Iranian immigrant, who is 5’3” (160 cm) tall with a slim build. She has shoulder-length black hair, and was last seen wearing grey and black leggings and a long sleeve top. She was last seen on the day of the abduction: January 12, at 8:30 p.m. when three men dragged her into the white SUV and left. Hajtamiri also uses the surname Tamiri.

Anyone with information can call the designated tip line at 1–866–876–5423, extension 7250, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1–800–222-TIPS. Online tips can also be left anonymously at www.1800222tips.com.