MIAMI BEACH, FL – A Hungarian national faces charges in Florida for allegedly preying on older, vulnerable men under a false identity and murdering two of them. Zsolt Zsolyomi, 25, was apprehended on February 19 and now stands accused of two counts of second-degree murder, with police investigating a troubling pattern of deceit and violence.
The investigation began when police discovered the body of 71-year-old Rodolfo Fernandez in his car in January 2024. Initially appearing as a crash in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, the circumstances soon pointed to foul play. Authorities noted the car’s seat belts were strangling Fernandez’s neck, leading them to conclude the scene had been staged. Fingerprints at the site matched those of Zsolyomi, who was later seen on surveillance footage leaving the vehicle from the passenger side.
Police traced Zsolyomi back to another case: the death of 66-year-old Carlos Villaquiran, who was found dead in his bathtub in November 2024. Law enforcement connected the Hungarian to Villaquiran through a series of incriminating text messages and surveillance footage.
Reports suggest Villaquiran and Zsolyomi, who had been using the alias “Thomas Kray,” were involved in a romantic relationship, which went sour after Villaquiran began questioning Zsolyomi’s true identity.
According to text exchanges documented by police, Villaquiran expressed shock at being injured, confronting Zsolyomi with a photograph of his bruised eye along with a message of disbelief. Zsolyomi’s responses were filled with apologies and claimed a lack of control over his actions when intoxicated, despite initially denying involvement.
As Villaquiran pieced together Zsolyomi’s deceit, tensions escalated. Villaquiran began demanding the return of his belongings, threatening to involve the authorities. A month later, he was found strangled, with Zsolyomi’s movements captured on video entering and leaving Villaquiran’s apartment the night of his death.
During a press briefing, local law enforcement described Zsolyomi as merciless and cunning, likening him to a predator stalking his victims with patience before striking lethally.
Zsolyomi remains held without bond and is also on an immigration hold. His arraignment is scheduled for March 12, where he will face the court over these severe allegations. Meanwhile, the community grapples with the implications of such crimes against vulnerable individuals.