Eight years after the murder that occurred in the Tribeca community, Michel Patrick Desalles, 54, has been indicted on charges of Murder in the Second Degree, accused of fatally choking his employer with zip ties. According to a statement from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Desalles was extradited from Mauritius and formally charged in New York State Supreme Court. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. stated that prosecutors remain focused on proceeding with the case.
According to the D.A.'s announcement, the incident took place back on February 14, 2017, when Desalles allegedly assaulted 51-year-old Omid Gholian inside the Tribeca jewelry store where he was employed following the attack, Desalles is reported to have purchased a plane ticket to Mauritius and left from JFK Airport that same evening, a move authorities allege indicates premeditation and an attempt to evade legal consequences.
The following day, Gholian's family and police found the store locked. After gaining access with a key provided by the family, they discovered Gholian deceased, with zip ties around his neck and visible indications of a struggle, including bruises and a head injury. The prosecution is being led by Assistant District Attorneys Julie Nobel and Elaine Ortyl, under the supervision of Siobhan Carty and Executive Assistant District Attorney Lisa DelPizzo.
Desalles’ extradition involved coordinated efforts among the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, the U.S. Marshals Service, and authorities in Mauritius. In a statement, District Attorney Bragg expressed hope that these efforts and the initiation of legal proceedings may provide some measure of relief to Gholian’s family. While the Biden administration has not publicly commented on the case, the international cooperation highlights the ongoing commitment to ensuring that individuals who leave the country to avoid prosecution are brought before the justice system.
