Arrests Made in Northern California Stabbing Death Case Involving Alleged Lover and Incriminating Evidence

True Crime Today | A True Crime Podcast

More than a month after the tragic stabbing death of 51-year-old Parwiz Assar in Northern California, arrests have finally been made in a case that involved incriminating evidence, surveillance video, and a Selena Gomez song as crucial pieces of evidence. Hayward Police, who have been diligently investigating the case, announced significant developments in the murder investigation.
On October 8, 2022, Hayward Police responded to a distressing report of an assault with a deadly weapon on the street and discovered Parwiz Assar suffering from stab wounds outside his home. Tragically, Assar was declared dead by medical personnel at the scene. The case took a complex turn as investigators began to uncover evidence that led them beyond the borders of California.
Authorities traced the evidence to Seattle, where they arrested 21-year-old Samim Azizi. He is being held without bail at the King County Jail, awaiting extradition to California. In Hayward, about two weeks after Azizi's arrest, Assar's wife, 35-year-old Razma Mohammad-Ibrahim, was taken into custody and is now held without bail at the Santa Rita County Jail.
The unfolding narrative behind this crime is one of marital problems and an alleged extramarital affair. Parwiz Assar and Razma Mohammad-Ibrahim had been married for approximately 12 years, but their relationship had become strained over time. Police reported that Mohammad-Ibrahim and Samim Azizi had met around December 2022 and subsequently became romantically involved. Authorities suspect that the two had plotted to kill Assar so that Mohammad-Ibrahim could end her marriage, be with Azizi, gain full custody of her children, and control family assets.
The investigation unearthed a multitude of evidence implicating the suspects, including surveillance video, internet searches, and an alleged text message from Azizi to Mohammad-Ibrahim indicating the selection of a "strong" knife for the attack.
On the fateful night of the assault, Assar's Ring doorbell camera captured footage of a masked assailant leaping from a bush to attack him as he approached his front door. Hours after the attack, a friend of Assar's informed the police that Assar had expressed fears that his wife was planning to harm him, prompting concerns for his safety.
The investigation also revealed a chilling detail: on the very day Parwiz Assar was killed, a post on his wife's Instagram account included the Selena Gomez song "Single Soon," raising unsettling questions about the timing and intent behind the message.
According to the police, Parwiz Assar and Razma Mohammad-Ibrahim had young children, who are currently in the care of other family members.
This case was successfully resolved through a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Renton Police Department, the Washington State Crime Lab, and the Washington State Department of Corrections, working alongside the Hayward Police Department.
Hayward, located approximately 30 miles southeast of San Francisco, has been gripped by this tragic incident, and Acting Chief Bryan Matthews expressed appreciation for the investigative work that led to the arrests. "Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Assar as they continue to grieve during this difficult time," Chief Matthews stated.
The arrests bring a glimmer of closure to a case that has captured the community's attention and raised questions about the complexity of human relationships and the role of technology in modern crime investigations.
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