Elias Abuelazam (; ; ; born August 29, 1976), also known as Elias Abullazam, is an Arab-Israeli convicted murderer, and a suspect of serial killings and stabbings with a racial motive.Israeli Elias Abuelazam appears in US court accused of racist murders The Guardian August 13, 2010 He is suspected in a string of eighteen stabbing attacks from May to August 2010 which resulted in five deaths. Most of the alleged attacks occurred in Genesee County, Michigan (particularly in and around Flint). Five stabbings occurred elsewhere: three in Leesburg, Virginia, one in Toledo, Ohio, and one in his native home in Ramla, Israel. All of his alleged victims were described as "small-framed" (i.e., short, thin, non-muscular) men — most of them African Americans.
During the investigation, Michigan media dubbed Abuelazam the "Flint Serial Slasher" and the "Flint Serial Stabber". He was and weighed at the time of his booking. Abuelazam has been convicted in one of the murders, that of 49-year-old Arnold Minor, which occurred on August 2, 2010, in Flint. He is currently serving a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for that crime. As a result, Genesee County prosecutors have announced Abuelazam will not stand trial for the other crimes in their jurisdiction, nor will authorities in Toledo or Leesburg try him.On hold: Future trials for accused serial killer Elias Abuelazam suspended The Flint Journal via MLive.com, October 5, 2012 On May 2, 2017, Abuelazam confessed to a 2009 murder in Leesburg.Flint serial stabber Elias Abuelazam confesses to Virginia killing The Flint Journal, via MLive.com, May 2, 2017
Personal life Abuelazam was born in Israel, to a well-to-do Arab Christian family."Suspected Israeli serial killer arrested in U.S.," Haaretz August 12, 2010"Serial Stabbing Suspect a 'Gentle Giant,' But With Alleged History of Violence", CBS August 13, 2010"Israeli 'serial killer' described as 'bulky, frightening character',", Eli Senyor, Israel News August 12, 2010"Portrait of stabbing suspect emerges," MSNBC August 13, 2010 As a child, he moved to the United States with his family after his mother remarried; he acquired a Green Card but never gained US citizenship. According to the State Department, Abuelazam changed his last name to Abullazam in March 1995."Details about suspected serial stabber Elias Abuelazam," Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010, Flint Journal.
Until 2008, Abuelazam worked at Piedmont Behavioral Health Center, LLC, an adolescent psychiatric facility in Leesburg, Virginia (now called North Spring Behavioral Healthcare) as a mental health technician. After moving to Michigan, he worked as a clerk at Kingwater Market in Beecher from July 5 to August 1, 2010. Most customers knew him as "Eli." He was cited for giving alcohol to a minor July 29, the same day a 59-year-old man was stabbed in Flint. Abuelazam's legal address is in Bradenton, Florida, according to the warrant. He previously lived in Grand Blanc, according to state records. Abuelazam most recently lived in a house belonging to his uncle on Maryland Avenue, on Flint's east side.
Abuelazam married Jessica Hirth (also known as Jessica Nimitz and Jessica Abuelazam) on July 30, 2004. He reportedly subjected her to emotional abuse. After they divorced in 2007, Abuelazam married again. Jessica and her parents later expressed shock after he was accused of the murders and stabbings.
Crimes Police and prosecutors claim that between May and August 2010, Abuelazam would drive around late at night, approach small-framed men who were walking alone, ask for directions or help fixing his vehicle, a green-colored Chevrolet TrailBlazer, and then stab them, usually in the chest or stomach. Abuelazam's alleged victims have been mostly black, and police in Leesburg suspect the attacks may have been racially motivated. Genesee County prosecutors, however, have declined to speculate on his motive, while noting the population of Flint is mostly black.Experts unsure if attacks are racially motivated WJRT-TV August 10, 2010
Abuelazam is also suspected of having stabbed a friend in the face with a screwdriver while on a visit to his family in Ramla in early 2010. Police did not pursue the case because the friend refused to press charges."Abuelazam was suspect in Israel," Associated Press, 8/13/20, Jerusalem Post.
In 2017, Abuelazam confessed to the unsolved 2009 murder of his Leesburg neighbor, Jammie Lane. Under an agreement, Abuelazam admitted to the crime in exchange for prosecutors granting him immunity to any charges in the case.
Investigation
In Genesee County on August 4, 2010, it was announced that a series of stabbings dating back to May 2010 were the work of one man, and a multi-jurisdictional task force was set up to investigate.Genesee County serial killer asks for victims' help before stabbing The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) August 4, 2010 The next week on August 9, 2010, police in Leesburg connected three hammer attacks against black men there via their victims' descriptions of the suspect, video surveillance footage of the attacks that matches his description and vehicle, and the similar mode of operation.Flint stabbings may be related to Leesburg, Virginia stabbings WJRT-TV August 9, 2010 The next day Toledo Police claimed a stabbing of a black man there also matched the suspect.Police say slasher vehicle was caught on tape WJRT-TV August 10, 2010
Arrests
First arrest Abuelazam was arrested August 5, 2010, in Arlington, Virginia, during a traffic stop. He was taken into custody because he had a warrant out for his arrest for simple assault and later released on personal bond.
Second arrest and extradition Abuelazam was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on August 11, 2010, at 10:00 p.m. in Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, while preparing to board a Delta Air Lines flight bound for Tel Aviv. On August 13, 2010, he waived his right to fight extradition to Michigan.Slashing suspect agrees to return to Michigan WJRT-TV August 13, 2010 Abuelazam's family hired Lansing based attorneys Brian Morley and Edwar Zeineh.Two Lansing attorneys representing suspected serial stabber Elias Abuelazam The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) August 13, 2010 He was flown to Flint on August 26, 2010, and lodged in the Genesee County Jail.Suspected serial stabber Elias Abuelazam arrives at Flint's Bishop International Airport, on way to Genesee County Jail The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) August 26, 2010
Abuelazam was held in solitary confinement, likely for his safety and because he had "scarred a lot of lives" with his actions, according to Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.Suspected serial stabber Elias Abuelazam will be one of 13 inmates in solitary confinement at Genesee County Jail The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) August 26, 2010 At his arraignment, he was ordered held without bond by the judge, even after the prosecutor asked for $10 million bail.
Arnold Minor murder trial During the evidentiary hearing for the Arnold Minor murder case, the judge ruled that evidence of the other Genesee County attacks could be used in the trial.Judge orders evidence from other Elias Abuelazam cases to be admissible in Arnold Minor murder The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) October 28, 2011 The trial began on May 8, 2012. The prosecution's key piece of evidence was a drop of Minor's blood on a pair of pants found in Abuelazam's luggage. On May 15 the prosecution rested after calling 50 witnesses, including other victims and their relatives, as well as several forensic experts, in addition to Abuelazam's uncle, who assisted police in his capture.Prosecutors rest case 1st trial tied to Mich. serial stabbings; survivor identifies attacker The Washington Post, May 15, 2012
Two days later on May 17, Abuelazam's attorneys presented an insanity defense. Their sole expert witness was a psychiatrist hired by his attorneys who diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia and said Abuelazam told him he committed the crimes because of "evil spirits". The doctor also said Abuelazam told him he attempted suicide in 1997 and was diagnosed as psychotic by an Israeli psychologist in 2009.Psychiatrist hired by defense attorney says suspected serial killer Elias Abuelazam suffered from paranoid schizophrenia The Flint Journal via MLive.com, May 17, 2012 The prosecution responded by attacking the psychiatrist's credibility, noting that his field of expertise was addiction medicine. The next day, the prosecution refuted the psychiatrist's diagnosis with two of their own mental health experts.Prosecution goes on the attack against defense's psychiatrist in suspected serial killer Elias Abuelazam trial The Flint Journal via MLive.com, May 17, 2012
Two psychologists who testified on behalf of the prosecution agreed that although Abuelazam has an unspecified personality disorder and he lacked empathy, his attacks were too planned out and organized for him to be considered legally insane.State psychologist testifies suspected serial killer suffered from personality disorder, showed lack of empathy The Flint Journal via MLive.com, May 18, 2012Another psychologist for the prosecution says suspected serial stabber Elias Abuelazam was not paranoid schizophrenic The Flint Journal via MLive.com, May 18, 2012 On May 22, 2012, after only an hour of deliberation, the jury found Abuelazam guilty of Minor's murder.GUILTY: Flint serial killer Elias Abuelazam convicted by 'mountains of evidence' The Flint Journal via MLive.com, May 22, 2012 On June 25, 2012, Abuelazam was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.Flint serial slasher Elias Abuelezam sentenced to life in prison The Flint Journal via MLive.com, June 25, 2012
Dismissed charges On August 26, 2010, the Genesee County Prosecutor's Office charged him with one count of assault with intent to commit murder for an attack on July 27, 2010.Serial slashing suspect in custody WJRT-TV August 12, 2010 On September 20, 2010, he was charged with four additional counts of assault to commit murder. The victims in those crimes are: Bill Fisher, who was attacked June 26, 2010; Richard Booker, who was attacked July 19, 2010 in Genesee Township, Michigan; Etwan Wilson, who was attacked August 1, 2010 near Pierson Road in northern Flint; and Da'Von Rawls of Flint.Abuelazam charged with open murder in Arnold Minor homicide; victims blood found in vehicle The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) September 20, 2010
On October 8, 2010, an Ohio grand jury indicted Abuelazam and charged him with felonious assault in the stabbing of church janitor Tony Leno in Toledo, Ohio.Suspected serial stabber Elias Abuelazam indicted in Ohio MLive.com via Associated Press October 8, 2010
On October 21, 2010, he was charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of Frank Kellybrew and Darwin Marshall of Flint, Michigan.Suspected serial killer Elias Abuelazam's attorney says two charges no surprise The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) October 21, 2010
On November 4, 2010, he was charged with two counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer causing injury and three counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer after he attempted to punch a deputy and had to be tasered with the help of four other officers on October 27, 2010.Suspected serial stabber Elias Abuelazam arraigned on 5 counts of assaulting a police officer. The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) November 4, 2010
On November 12, 2010, he was charged with malicious destruction of property for smashing out the windows of a car belonging to James Augsberger, boyfriend of witness Lucinda Mann.Elias Abuelazam bound over on MDOP charge; witness says Abuelazam smashed in windows The Flint Journal (via MLive.com) November 12, 2010