Arrest made in Polk County murder

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

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Polk County detectives have arrested an Orlando man in connection with the discovery of a woman's burned body earlier this month.

Firefighters found Solymarie Roman's body when they were called to a brushfire in an abandoned subdivision in northeast Polk County.

Detectives believe 28-year-old Mourad Balzourt strangled his girlfriend Nov. 1 then dumped her body on the side of the road and set it on fire.

Investigators said the pair had an argument about her phone conversations with her former boyfriend.

Mourad Balzourt is accused of killing Roman.

Detectives said cell phone records show Balzourt made several calls near the Polk County crime scene while he claimed to be in Orlando. They also said they later found Roman's blood in Balzourt's Ford Edge SUV.

Investigators also said they uncovered credit card receipts showing Balzourt had Roman's car detailed the day her body was found and that he sent someone several messages from her myspace account after she died.

Balzourt has been charged with 1st-degree murder and booked into the Polk County jail without bond.