INKSTER — A local man, suspected of a murder at the Cherry Hill Apartments in Inkster last week, was captured and arrested for first degree murder in Scarborough, Canada over the weekend.

Ali Mohamed Elatrache, 25, was wanted for first degree murder, stalking, arson and a home invasion that had occurred on Thursday, July 16. 

According to the Inkster Police Department, Elatrache had invaded the home of his ex girlfriend and murdered her 72-year-old father, by beating and strangling him to death. The two men had reportedly been involved in numerous prior disputes, with regard to Elatrache’s relationship with the man’s daughter.

Elatrache.

Sources say that the victim’s body was discovered by the daughter some hours after the incident had occurred. Elatrache and the female were reportedly in an on again, off again relationship for months. The local woman had told authorities that Elatrache refused to break ties with her, even after she had called the relationship off. She explained that he would stalk her and threaten to retaliate with violence, if she wouldn’t get back together with him. 

Authorities had been looking for Elatrache, but were unsuccessful in finding him after the events unfolded. Police had contacted his family, who reside in Dearborn Heights, but they too were unable to track down his whereabouts. It is speculated that Elatrache may have crossed the Canadian border on the same evening that he committed the murder.

The Toronto Police fugitive squad, the Canada Border Services Agency and other law enforcement officials helped in the investigation, eventually tracking Elatrache down in Canada. He was turned back over to the Inskter Police Department after his arrest there.

Elatrache’s behavior has been described as unstable by those who know him. One employee at a local community center had stated that he was kicked out of the building for stalking a female, although it’s unclear if this is the same female who is the daughter of the victim.

Meanwhile, residents at the Cherry Hill Manor apartment complex are shaken by the incident. Bordering Dearborn Heights, the complex is home to numerous community members. The complex has a security gate, located at its front entrance, where drivers must punch in a security code to enter, after 6 p.m. It is unclear how Elatrache managed to get through the gate and into the complex undetected.