HOUSTON – Channel 2 Investigates has learned a man connected to the cold case murders of Gelareh Bagherzadeh and Coty Beavers, has just been charged with capital murder.
Ali Irsan, 57, a Jordanian national who was living in Montgomery County, is accused of playing a role in the 2012 murder of graduate student Bagherzadeh. Detectives said Irsan, a conservative Muslim, was angry that Bagherzadeh turned his daughter, Nesreen, from Islam to Christianity. When he could not find his daughter, investigators say he harassed Bagherzadeh, but the woman would not tell him of his daughter's whereabouts.
The DA's Office held a press conference Tuesday afternoon sharing new information.
"My heart goes out the victim's family members," said Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson in a statement. "I know this investigation has taken a long time, and it's still ongoing, but I want them to know we have never forgotten about Gelareh and Coty."
Other fresh developments include charges for Irsan's wife, son and daughter.
His wife, Ashmou Alrawabdeh, is charged with murder. Alrawabdeh is currently in federal custody awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to Social Security Fraud.
His daughter, 30-year-old Nadia Irsan, is charged with stalking. Investigators said she was trying to help her father locate her sister and also made threats. Nadia Irsan is currently in federal custody awaiting sentencing in the same Social Security fraud case.
His son, 21-year-old Nasim Irsan, is charged with murder.
Cory Beavers, Coty Beavers' twin brother expressed his relief Wednesday, by phone.
"We know there's still a long way to go but it feels like there's been a huge weight lifted off our shoulders with these arrests," Cory Beavers said.
In 1999, Ali Irsan shot and killed his son-in-law. That killing was originally deemed to be an act of self-defense, but the case has since been reopened.
Ali Irsan, 57, has not been convicted of any of the above-mentioned crimes at this point.
Ali Irsan is being held on a federal fraud charge stemming from his June 2014 arrest, with that trial tentatively slated to begin this summer.
"Let these charges be a reminder to other violent offenders that law enforcement in Houston will not give up until justice is served," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner in a statement.