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Bloodstains' DNA Leads To Arrest In Woman's Slaying

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By BILLY TOWNSEND, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 30, 2007

POINCIANA - When 22-year-old Solymarie Roman was found slain, her body burned, in a northeast Polk County orange grove, suspicion quickly focused on her boyfriend, Mourad Balzourt.
Detectives said he told conflicting stories about his whereabouts on the day Roman was killed. The 28-year-old Balzourt eventually stopped talking, and detectives didn't have enough to charge him.

They had to wait a few weeks until science and the trappings of modern life could help them put Balzourt in handcuffs.

That happened Wednesday because of DNA collected from barely perceptible bloodstains found in Balzourt's car. It was identified by a crime lab as Roman's, the sheriff's office reported.

Balzourt is accused of strangling Roman on Halloween and dumping her body and setting fire to it the next day in an area off Marlin Drive in Poinciana. He faces charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. He is being held without bail in Polk County Jail.
Detectives don't know precisely where Balzourt strangled Roman, sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said.

Balzourt lived with Roman in Orlando and was the last person known to have seen her alive, detectives said.

Roman was found Nov. 1 when authorities responded to the report of a brush fire. She wasn't identified for nearly a week, until relatives in Puerto Rico provided dental records.
Detectives interviewed Balzourt twice, on Nov. 8 and 9, and said he made conflicting statements, particularly about his whereabouts, before refusing to talk further.
Credit card receipts and cell phone records showed Balzourt drove to Polk County on Nov. 1, contrary to his statements, and that he cleaned and detailed his car on the same day, Rodgers said.

"Mourad Balzourt brutally murdered a beautiful 22-year-old woman and has been lying to us and to Solymarie's family for weeks," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Now his lies, and the evidence uncovered by our detectives, have put him behind bars, where he hopefully will stay for the rest of his life."

Balzourt's sister, Jamila Balzourt, who also lives in Orlando, has said there is no way her brother killed Roman.

"That's not him. He's not violent," she said. "He's very responsible."

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com.

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