A NYC Jewelry Store worker who allegedly killed his boss was brought back from abroad after being on the run for about 8 years. Michael Desalles, who was born in Mauritius, is accused of the second-degree criminal offense. He is the primary suspect in the murder case of 51-year-old Omid Gholian, the owner of the Tribeca jewelry shop known as The World of Gold’n’Diamond.
The alleged offence happened on February 14, 2017, after Desalles presumably had choked Gholian with two zip ties fastened around his neck. Police found Gholian’s lifeless body lying in a rear room of the shop bearing signs of blunt-force trauma. He also had a cranial wound (and most likely, a concussion which accompanied it), as well as bruising near one eye.
Just a few hours after the incident, Desalles boarded an international flight at JFK Airport bound for Mauritius, an island nation in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The escape was “premeditated,” according to authorities, as Desalles was trying to escape just in time to avoid any punishment for committing the crime.
The exact motives behind the murder are unclear, or at least, the Manhattan District Attorney has not revealed any information regarding the reason. The only thing that’s clear is that it wasn’t done for material reasons, as none of the jewelry was taken from the store. Perhaps, the motive had to do with romantic rivalry or personal offense. The first theory seems more plausible as the murder was done on Valentine’s Day, which would make the day of the assault very symbolic.
In March 2019, the NY grand jury issued an indictment charging Desalles with homicide and a warrant for his arrest. Since then, law enforcement officers have been trying to bring him back from the island. Luckily, thanks to the police and the attorney general of the Republic of Mauritius, and also a number of American organizations, such as the U.S. Embassy in Port Louis, the Department of Justice Office, and the Marshals Service, the criminal was finally captured in Mauritius.
After being brought to the U.S. on May 2, he was called to the Supreme Criminal Court. Naturally, he pleaded not guilty. As of now, Desalles is being held without bail. His next trial is set for August 11 this year. Currently, he has no legal representation, no attorney who has taken his case.
The Olertis team expresses its sincerest condolences to the Gholians. We hope for the fairest resolution of this case and look forward to finding out more details about what really happened on that fateful day 8 years ago.
