Fugitive charged in 2017 murder of jewelry store boss using zip ties
Former jewelry store employee Michel Patrick DeSalles charged with 2017 murder of boss Omid Gholian in New York
A former employee of a New York jewelry store, Michel Patrick DeSalles, has been charged with the 2017 murder of his boss, Omid Gholian.
The victim was found dead in the store with zip ties tightly wrapped around his neck, and DeSalles fled the U.S. after the incident, evading justice for over eight years.
The alleged murder and DeSalles’ flight
On February 14, 2025, DeSalles supposedly attacked Gholian at the jewelry store in Tribeca, New York. According to authorities, he tied zip ties around Omid Gholian's neck, choking him to death. Hours later, DeSalles fled the country after purchasing a ticket to Mauritius, an island nation located in the Indian Ocean.
When Gholian's family tried to check on him, they found the door to the jewelry store was closed, and with a key they had in their possession, the police broke in and found the lifeless body in the backroom with several bruises a head wound, and the zip ties around his neck.
DeSalles’ extradition and legal proceedings
Eight years have passed since the murder of Omid Gholian, and DeSalles evaded capture in Mauritius. However, after many efforts, he was finally extradited to the United States in May 2025.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr. announced the charges, and expressed his esire for the victim's loved ones to find some peace. “I hope the victim’s loved ones can take some measure of comfort that this defendant will finally face accountability in New York,” he stated in a news release.
DeSalles' next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 11, 2025. As of May 7, he does not have a defense attorney on file.
