A man previously deported from the United States is back in Lake County facing a first-degree murder charge following a year-long investigation into the death of his sister-in-law, 44-year-old Monica Islam. Shahidul Islam was extradited from federal custody to the Lake County Jail on May 31, 2026.
The case began on May 2, 2025, when a passerby found Monica Islam’s body at the intersection of Wolf Branch Drive and Scenic Hills Drive in Mount Dora. She lived in Eustis and worked at a local Shell gas station.
According to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the homicide followed a history of domestic disputes. In December 2024, Monica reported an incident to the Eustis Police Department involving her husband, Rashedul Islam, and his brother, Shahidul. Investigators state that Rashedul struck Monica and stole her jewelry alongside paperwork for a disputed property in Bangladesh.
During that encounter, Shahidul allegedly pointed a gun at Monica to prevent her from calling 911. Rashedul left the country shortly after the incident, was never charged, and has not returned to the U.S.
Detectives tracking Shahidul learned he had an active federal immigration warrant for illegally re-entering the country after a prior deportation. License plate readers initially linked him to a residence in Sanford. When investigators discovered he had fled Sanford for New York in a rental car, they enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals Service. Federal agents arrested Shahidul on the immigration warrant on May 6, 2025.
Sheriff’s office investigators constructed a timeline of the morning of the murder using witness statements, surveillance video, phone records, and license plate reader data:
- 3:30 a.m.: Shahidul left his home in Longwood.
- 5:15 a.m.: Shahidul arrived near the Eustis Shell gas station where Monica worked.
- 5:30 a.m.: Shahidul called Monica’s phone. Surveillance footage captured Monica walking toward his vehicle shortly after.
- 5:56 a.m.: License plate readers recorded Shahidul’s car in the immediate area where Monica’s body was later discovered.
- 6:28 a.m.: Shahidul conducted internet searches regarding the incident.
- 7:00 a.m.: Shahidul returned to his Longwood home.
- 7:22 a.m.: A passerby discovered Monica’s body at the Mount Dora intersection.
A subsequent search of Shahidul’s vehicle uncovered a shattered passenger-side window, a projectile lodged inside the passenger door, and blood stains. Forensic testing yielded a presumptive match to Monica Islam’s DNA.
Following his 2025 arrest by federal authorities, detectives secured a warrant for first-degree murder. Shahidul remained in federal custody until his extradition back to Lake County to face the homicide charge.
READ: Minor Clip, Fatal Result: 24-Year-Old Killed In Lakeland Parking Lot Exit Motorcycle Crash
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