CLEARWATER, Fla. — A man killed the mother of their daughter before he ran off with the girl, prompting a statewide Amber Alert earlier Monday morning before his arrest, authorities said.
Renato Muhaj, 34, was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and child abuse, Largo Police Chief Mike Soux said during an afternoon news conference.
The investigation first began just before 3 a.m. when Muhaj hit both of his parents and took away their phone so they could not call 911 for help, Clearwater law enforcement said in a statement.
During the investigation, Clearwater police reportedly contacted the Largo Police Department to check the home belonging to Muhaj's ex-girlfriend, Suela Saliaj, and their 8-year-old daughter, Alessia Muhaj, at an apartment complex on Clearwater Largo Road.
Soux says his officers went to the area to find Renato Muhaj and saw signs that a crime had been committed — enough to concern them that the life of whoever was inside may be in danger.
"Once the officers entered the apartment, they located Saliaj deceased," Soux said. "Part of the investigation is going on, but it was clearly a homicide."
The 8-year-old girl was not at the apartment, which then prompted an Amber Alert to find the child and Renato Muhaj.
At around 8:30 a.m., authorities were able to locate a 2017 gold Kia Sportage with FL tag No. EJIJ99 – the vehicle believed to be driven by Muhaj with his daughter inside – using cellular networks in the area of Bellair Road and St. Paul Drive in Largo, the police chief said.
"One of our detectives drove by the vehicle to see if it was occupied and it appeared that it was occupied. Other officers responded to the area and closed in on the vehicle," Loux said.
Police found Renato Muhaj and his daughter in the car. Both were placed in custody and had no injuries.
The Largo police chief said the child is safe and is now with family members.
Authorities have not yet said whether a restraining order was in place before Saliaj's body was found but did say the two lived in separate locations. They, too, did not detail a motive for the killing.
The Clearwater Police Department says Renato Muhaj will face additional charges of aggravated assault, tampering with a witness, battery, false imprisonment and domestic battery.