A 25-year-old Hungarian national, Zsolt Zsolyomi, faces allegations connecting him to the murders of two disabled senior men in South Florida, with charges of second-degree murder set against him. One of the victims, 66-year-old Carlos Villaquiran, was in a romantic relationship with Zsolyomi, whose body was found submerged in a bathtub in his Miami Beach apartment on Nov. 21, 2024, as per reports from Local 10 News.
Investigations also connected Zsolyomi to the death of 71-year-old Rodolfo Fernandez de Velasco, found on Jan. 19, with seatbelts wrapped around his neck in a crashed Kia Soul in Little Havana, stated by authorities referenced in a report by NBC Miami.
Zsolyomi, who was in the United States illegally after overstaying his visa, had been previously arrested in connection with a strong-armed robbery, now finds himself in a legal morass without bond. Represented by a public defender, he also faces an immigration hold. Investigators used text messages where Villaquiran accused Zsolyomi of abuse, featuring an injury to the victim's eye, alongside surveillance footage placing Zsolyomi at the scene to substantiate his connection to the crimes. The suspect, after denying the injuries, confessed his apologies through texts saying, "Sometimes I don’t know what to do when I’m drunk," revealed in documents obtained by Local 10 News.
Both crime scenes presented a chilling image of violence against the vulnerable individuals. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's Office ruled both incidents as homicides, with Villaquiran's autopsy showing evidence of strangulation, a finding paralleled by the conditions of Fernandez de Velasco's demise. While the police department highlighted the collaborative efforts in tracking down Zsolyomi, Miami Police Chief Manny Morales commended the unity across agencies stating, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of all the detectives involved in this case, from multiple agencies, who worked seamlessly together to locate and apprehend a suspect responsible for such despicable acts against our most vulnerable citizens. This successful partnership between Miami Police, Miami Beach Police, CBP, SAO and other agencies is a prime example of the power of collaboration in bringing justice and closure to the victims and their families. It is through these united efforts that we are able to hold those who commit such heinous crimes accountable and ensure the safety of our community,” according to a statement obtained by Local 10 News.
The community, reeling from the tragic loss of Villaquiran who was remembered fondly by neighbors for his humor, is seeking solace in the efforts of local authorities. Police encourage anyone with additional information on Zsolyomi or possible related cases to approach the Miami Police Department’s Homicide Unit. Zsolyomi, who once donned an ankle monitor after a previous arrest, had used aliases such as "Thomas Kray" but is now apprehended and facing the weight of the law's retribution for his alleged crimes.
