Bail denied for man charged with killing 17-year-old daughter

Bail has been denied for a 42-year-old man accused of murdering his 17-year-old daughter in Tinley Park.

Mohammed Almaru is charged with killing Mia Maro in their home in the 7800 block of 167th Street on or around Sunday, May 1. The first-degree murder charge was announced by Tinley Park Police Chief Matthew Walsh on May 4.

In their request for denying bail to Almaru, Cook County prosecutors pointed to the “extremely violent manner” of the murder and Almaru’s subsequent attempt to “take his own life.”

“The safety of the community is at risk,” prosecutors wrote in the petition.

According to court documents, in the lead up to Maro’s death, her father refused to allow her to attend her senior prom. He also allegedly sent a message to one of his sons asking if the son “knew anything about [Maro] and a boy.”

Prosecutors also wrote that Maro’s aunts attempted to contact her on May 1, but upon receiving no response, one of the aunts went to Almaru’s home “to see if [she] was okay.” Sometime after arriving at the house, the aunt “began to hear gurgling coming from [Almaru’s] bedroom,” and she entered the room to check on him — discovering Maro’s body next to Almaru, who was on the floor with wounds that suggested self-harm.

An autopsy performed on Maro found extensive bruising on her arms, legs, feet, torso, skull and face, according to court documents. It also revealed that her death was caused by multiple injuries likely caused by repeated strikes from heavy objects. Items that may have been used in the attack were found in the home, according to the court documents.

According to the court documents, Maro had also sent a text message to an aunt on April 26 expressing fear that her father would “beat” or “kill her” after she was involved in an automobile accident.

Prosecutors also noted that earlier in the evening on May 1, Almaru had sent his son a text message of a photograph of himself holding a letter, which contained a statement from Almaru admitting to going through Maro’s phone and physically assaulting her, including hitting her on the head.

Almaru’s next scheduled court date is May 9.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for funeral expenses for Maro. As of 2:30 p.m. on May 6, nearly $38,500 had been raised. For more information, visit https://gofund.me/0c498069.