LAKE COUNTY, Florida – A man accused in the 2025 killing of a Eustis woman has been extradited back to Lake County to face a first-degree murder charge more than a year after the investigation began.
According to investigators, 44-year-old Monica Islam of Eustis was found dead on May 2, 2025, near the intersection of Wolf Branch Drive and Scenic Hills Drive in Mount Dora. Her body was discovered by a passerby shortly after 7:20 a.m.
During the homicide investigation, detectives uncovered a history of domestic violence involving Monica Islam, her husband, Rashedul Islam, and her brother-in-law, Shahidul Islam.
Investigators learned that in December 2024, Monica reported being assaulted by her husband during a dispute involving jewelry and property documents related to land in Bangladesh. During the same incident, Shahidul Islam allegedly pointed a firearm at her and warned her not to call 911. The incident was reported to the Eustis Police Department.
Authorities said Rashedul Islam left the United States shortly after the incident and was never charged. He has not returned to the country.
As detectives continued investigating Monica’s death, they discovered Shahidul Islam had previously been deported from the United States and was wanted on a federal immigration warrant after allegedly re-entering the country illegally.
Using license plate reader technology, investigators connected Shahidul to a residence in Sanford. Detectives later learned he had fled to New York in a rental vehicle, prompting assistance from the United States Marshals Service.
Federal authorities arrested Shahidul on the immigration warrant on May 6, 2025.
Investigators said evidence gathered during the homicide investigation placed Shahidul in key locations connected to Monica’s death.
According to detectives:
- Shahidul left his Longwood residence shortly after 3:30 a.m. on May 2, 2025.
- He was near the Shell gas station in Eustis, where Monica worked, at approximately 5:15 a.m.
- Phone records showed he called Monica shortly after 5:30 a.m.
- Surveillance video captured Monica walking toward Shahidul’s vehicle after the call.
- License plate reader data placed his vehicle near the location where Monica’s body was later discovered at approximately 5:56 a.m.
- Investigators found that Shahidul began searching online for information about the incident around 6:28 a.m.
- He returned to his Longwood residence at approximately 7 a.m.
- Monica’s body was discovered at 7:22 a.m.
A search of Shahidul’s vehicle revealed a shattered passenger-side window, a projectile lodged in the passenger door, and blood evidence that investigators said produced a presumptive match to Monica’s DNA.
Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant charging Shahidul Islam with First-Degree Murder in May 2025.
On May 31, 2026, Shahidul was extradited from federal custody to Lake County to face the murder charge.
The case remains active as prosecutors move forward with criminal proceedings.