Man Murders Wife in Rockdale County

Via the Rockdale Citizen

A Rockdale County man was charged Thursday in the death of his estranged wife, whose body was found in her rental house in the Indian Ridge subdivision. Investigators believe the man attempted to cover up his wife’s death by making it appear that there had been a burglary.

Hakim Muhammad, 42, of 4713 Cedar Lake Drive, was charged with murder and concealing a death. He was arrested early Wednesday at his wife’s house at 825 Cochise Trail and originally charged with burglary, according to the Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office.

However, investigators were suspicious of his story and search warrants were executed at both residences because Muhammad and his wife were together at the Cedar Lake Drive house just prior to the murder at Cochise Trail.

Shupe said there was enough evidence gathered from those search warrants for investigators to charge Muhammad with his wife’s murder.

Shupe added the official cause of death was undetermined until an autopsy report is completed, but she said investigators believe Shelia Renee Muhammad may have died from strangulation.

The couple, who had two sons, ages 10 and 14 years old, were estranged. Shelia Muhammad had recently rented the Cochise Trail home and was in the process of moving in, Shupe said.

“It is believed that the murder had been planned days prior,” Shupe said. “The suspect had removed the victim’s wedding band and had it in his pocket at the time of his arrest — a further attempt to make it look like a burglary.”

What we know is that domestic violence is about power and control. We hear often that the perpetrator just snapped, but police believe that this murder was planned out in advance. Often batterers just can't handle the fact that their victims have moved on, as this woman so clearly had. He had to find one last way of exerting control over her.