PORTLAND, Ore.— A Portland man suspected of killing his ex-wife before taking his own life used social media hours before the crime to post videos of the two of them arguing over their children and their relationship.
Detectives were aware of the videos Ian Martin Elias posted on social media and were analyzing them, said Sgt. Pete Simpson, a police spokesman.
Police believe Elias, 47, killed his ex-wife, Nicolette Naomi Elias, on Monday morning and took the couple’s two children.
The investigation began at about 7:20 a.m., when a neighbor reported hearing gunshots and saw two small children leave with someone. Inside the home, police discovered the body of the girls’ mother.
When a SWAT team and crisis negotiators arrived at Ian Elias’ current home, he walked out the back door and shot himself, police said. The girls, ages 8 and 9, were found inside the house, unharmed, with Ian Elias’ new wife.
Links to the argument videos chronicling the couple’s protracted custody battle were posted to Facebook and Twitter about an hour before the killing. They were uploaded to YouTube two days ago and in July.
In the videos, Ian Elias accuses his ex-wife of abuse and of trying to keep his children away from him. She fights back, saying she is not abusive and complains he’s constantly filming her.
Nicolette Elias had obtained a restraining order against her ex-husband earlier this year, arguing he was violent, sexually abusive, and suffered from severe, chronic alcohol and drug abuse, The Oregonian reported. Security was also increased at the girls’ school, the Portland Jewish Academy, due to concerns about the father, court records show.
Police were working with the Oregon Department of Human Services to place the girls in a safe home, possibly with relatives. The bureau’s Domestic Violence Reduction Unit was assisting with the investigation.
Outside the ex-wife’s house, Ahmed Mohamud, who lives across the street, told the newspaper his wife heard five to six gunshots and called him to come home. When Mohamud arrived, he found the front door of their neighbor’s home wide open.
“It’s terrible,” Mohamud said. “I can’t imagine how a human person can take another person’s life, especially when that person cares for children.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
