A Mississauga man has been arrested in Texas in connection with the 2021 assault of Elnaz Hajtamiri, a woman who has been missing since January 2022. The 25-year-old suspect faces charges of aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. He is currently in custody in York Region, according to a news release from York Regional Police.

The U.S. Marshals Service apprehended the man in Austin, Texas, on August 19. He was later extradited to Canada to face charges. Police allege that he was involved in an attack on Hajtamiri that occurred in December 2021, just weeks before her kidnapping.

Hajtamiri was assaulted in an underground parking garage in Richmond Hill, where she was struck with a frying pan. A concerned citizen intervened, allowing her to be taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, including a head wound that required 40 stitches. The assailants fled the scene in a vehicle.

In January 2022, Hajtamiri was kidnapped from a relative's home in Wasaga Beach by three men dressed in fake police uniforms. They drove away in a white Lexus SUV, and she has not been seen since. Following the attack, Hajtamiri's ex-boyfriend, Mohamad Lilo, was charged with attempted murder and attempted kidnapping. He had been harassing her prior to the incident.

Since the initial attack, a total of eight individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including Lilo. In November 2023, he was charged with first-degree murder, indicating that investigators believe Hajtamiri is deceased and that her death was intentional.

Authorities are offering a $100,000 reward for information that could lead to Hajtamiri's whereabouts. York Regional Police are urging anyone with information to contact them or reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.