Photo: Gofundme.com; Illinois Department of Corrections
An Illinois father, Mohammed Almaru, has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for the brutal killing of his teenage daughter, Mia Maro, following an argument over her attending her high school prom. The tragic incident occurred in May 2022, and Almaru, 44, was convicted of first-degree murder in August 2023.
According to multiple news reports from Fox 32, WGN-TV, and CBS News, the horrific event unfolded on the night of May 1, 2022, when 17-year-old Mia Maro was found dead in the family’s home in Tinley Park, Illinois. Responding police officers discovered Almaru with self-inflicted wounds and evidence that he had taken pills in a suicide attempt after killing his daughter.
The autopsy revealed that Maro had suffered severe bruising on her arms, legs, skull, and face, with significant brain hemorrhaging and bleeding. According to WGN-TV, Almaru had struck his daughter multiple times in the head with a metal pole and a rubber mallet, both of which were found at the scene covered in her blood.
Prosecutors revealed that the fatal beating was triggered by an argument over whether Mia could attend her high school prom. Initially, Almaru had given her permission, but he later changed his mind, claiming he “did not trust her,” according to court documents cited by Fox 32. After going through his daughter’s phone, Almaru believed she was keeping secrets from him and reportedly felt he needed to “beat the information out of her.”
In the days leading up to her death, Mia had expressed fear for her safety. According to Fox 32, she had confided in a relative, saying she was afraid her father might “beat” or “kill” her.
On the day of the killing, Almaru reportedly confessed to one of his sons via text message, writing, “I lost my mind, went out of control and beat her… I f***ed up big time I’m sorry,” according to court records cited by Fox 32. Despite this confession, Almaru later claimed that his daughter’s death was accidental.
Maro, a high school senior just weeks away from graduating, had been caring for her mother, who suffered a medical emergency in 2019, according to reports. The senseless tragedy has left the community shocked and grieving for a young woman who had her whole life ahead of her.
