By David L. Snelling

Miami – The Miami Beach Police Department may have snapped a killing spree by a Hungarian immigrant who’s charged with two counts of second-degree murder of two elderly gay men.

The first alleged murder by Zsolt Zsolyomi, 25, was committed in the city of Miami. He claimed his second victim in Miami Beach.

The latter city’s police department was able to track down Zsolyomi and arrest him after homicide detectives linked him to the murder of 66-year-old Carlos Alonso Villaquiran.

Miami Beach Police Chief Wayne Jones said the victim was strangled to death.

Police believe Zsolyomi and Villaquiran knew each other intimately based on information found at the crime scene and on the suspect when he was arrested.

The city of Miami Police Department gathered evidence that connected Zsolyomi to an earlier murder case in Little Havana.

Jones said Zsolymomi is a dangerous man who possibly was planning another attack.

“He is the epitome of evil. He hunts his prey,” Jones said during a joint press conference with the city of Miami Police Department. “He’s patient with his prey, and then he kills them. There’s no doubt in my mind, had he not been caught, he would’ve done this again and again and again.”

Zsolyomi could be the first illegal immigrant to face the death penalty under Florida’s new immigration enforcement policy.

In February, the Florida Legislature passed a new law to crackdown on illegal immigration including imposing the death penalty on immigrants who are convicted of murder.

Zsolyomi was arrested in February and the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature passed the new law in January.

But could he still face a mandatory death sentence if both crimes were committed before Florida’s new law went into effect?

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing for tougher illegal immigration enforcement laws reflecting President Donald Trump’s crackdown operation.

In addition, DeSantis spearheaded a law in 2023 allowing eight of 12 jurors to recommend a mandatory death sentence, rather than the unanimous jury previously required.

Florida changed the law after jurors in the Parkland trial of accused shooter Nicolas Cruz recommended life imprisonment because they were split on him being put to death.

Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 counts of firstdegree murder and 17 counts of first-degree attempted murder. The victims’ family members called for the death penalty.

Zsolyomi has been a career criminal since he was granted a 90-day visa in 2022 to legally enter the U.S., which had expired.

Miami Beach Police Chief Manny Morales said an investigation discovered that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had told Zsolyomi to leave the country or face deportation.

Instead he allegedly went on a crime spree that included theft and two capital murders.

Miami Beach Police said officers performed a welfare check at an apartment unit after Villaquiran’s family members weren’t able to reach him for days.

Officers said they discovered him unresponsive with his head and upper body partially submerged in bathtub water.

The medical examiner later ruled he died by strangulation.

Investigators pieced together evidence that linked Zsolyomi to the murder to track him down and arrest him.

Jones credits his officers for locating and arresting Zsolyomi before he harmed another person.

“Our detectives conducted a comprehensive investigation in partnership with the city of Miami Police Department, resulting in the successful apprehension of Zsolt Zsolyomi,” Jones said.

“We remain committed to pursuing justice for the victim and his family.”

Miami Police also connected Zsolyomi to a 2024 murder he committed and charged in Little Havana.

Morales said 71-year-old Rodolfo Fernandez de Velasco was found dead in his car with the front seat belts wrapped around his neck.

Police initially believed the victim died in a car crash but it was actually a homicide.

Police determined he was also strangled to death and suffered blunt trauma to the head.

Morales said video evidence showed that Zsolyomi had been in the car before the crash to cover up the homicide. Morales said Zsolyomi confessed to both murders.