CHICAGO — A man who fled to California after allegedly murdering a former Harold Washington College student in 2013 was charged in her death Friday, authorities said.
Faramarz Bakhshi, 23, of Whittier, Calif., was charged with one felony count of murder and another felony count of concealing the homicide, according to police.
He is charged in the death of Michelle Manalansan, 28, who was previously reported missing. She had last been seen on Feb. 9 near 300 E. South Water Street wearing a pink jogging suit and white gym shoes, according to a missing persons report issued by police.
Around 9 a.m. on March 17, 2013, a Pilsen resident found a woman's dead body in the 1400 block of West Cullerton Avenue, according to police. Her decomposed body was reportedly found stuffed in a mattress.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office identified the woman as Manalansan.
When police found the body, they were unable to determine her gender, race or age, police said.
Bakhshi was identified as a suspect shortly after the body was found, but had left the state, police said.
Detectives continued to investigate and later found Bakhski in California.
Police initially said they were conducting a non-criminal investigation into Manalansan's death. An autopsy performed on her body was inconclusive, but the Medical Examiner's Office later determined she died of blunt head and neck trauma. A Chicago magazine investigation found police were looking for Manalansan's roommate in connection to her death, but he had fled to California.
Police downgraded the investigation, suspending it until the roommate could be located, Chicago reported.
Bakhski is due in central bond court Saturday.
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