Hungarian Man Accused of Targeting LGBTQ+ Victims in Miami-Dade Murders
MIAMI, FL — A Hungarian man accused of committing two brutal murders in Miami-Dade County is now believed to have specifically targeted elderly gay men, authorities revealed on Friday.
City of Miami Police Chief Manny Morales and Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones provided new details on how investigators tracked down 25-year-old Zsolt Zsolyomi, who they say preyed on vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community.
“This individual who was out there, preying on members of our community, would have gotten away with these crimes if it wasn’t for the diligent work of our investigators and the partnership with these agencies,” Morales said.
Zsolyomi has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder for killings that occurred in November and January. Police say he befriended both victims before strangling them to death. He is currently being held without bond and has been placed on an immigration hold after authorities determined he overstayed his visa.
The first victim, 66-year-old Carlos Villaquiran, was found dead in the bathtub of his Miami Beach apartment on Nov. 21. The medical examiner determined he died from homicidal violence, including strangulation.
Two months later, on Jan. 18, police discovered 71-year-old Rodolfo Fernandez de Velasco dead in his car in Little Havana. Authorities say both front seatbelts were wrapped around his neck, suggesting he had been strangled before the vehicle crashed.
Jones emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in apprehending Zsolyomi.
“Thank goodness we did because there’s no doubt in my mind that if he had not been caught, he would have done this again, and again, and again,” he said.
Authorities are urging anyone who may have been victimized by Zsolyomi or who has information about similar cases to contact Miami Police’s Homicide Unit at (305) 603-6350. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (4877) or online at crimestoppersmiami.com.
