A 17-year-old girl was reportedly killed by her father after an argument about attending prom

(Gray News) – An Illinois father has been convicted of beating his teenage daughter to death after an argument about him going to prom.

The fatal attack occurred in May 2022, WLS-TV reported.

Officers said they discovered the body of a 17-year-old girl, later identified as Mia Maro, in the basement of the home. They also found her father, 42-year-old Mohammed Almaru, with self-inflicted wounds to his wrist and neck.

Almaru had taken pills and was taken to a hospital where he was stabilized, according to police.

According to the Department of Public Safety, officials determined that Maro died as a result of multiple injuries and classified her death as a homicide.

Authorities said Maro and her father argued about her attending the prom.

Prosecutors said the 42-year-old man gave his daughter permission to go but later changed his mind and said he “didn’t trust” her after she suffered a car accident, WFLD reported.

In the days before her death, Maro allegedly texted a relative telling her she feared her father would “beat” or “kill” her.

Police said they found a bent metal rod and a rubber hammer allegedly used in Maro’s murder.

There was also a letter allegedly written by Almaru in which he admitted to hitting Mia after he found out she had lied to him, prosecutors said.

He allegedly confessed to the crime in a text message to a family member, WFLD reported.

“I lost my mind, got out of control and hit her… I messed up big time, I’m sorry,” he said.

On Monday he was sentenced to 55 years in prison. His lawyers filed a motion to reduce his sentence, but the judge rejected it.

Almaru will get credit for the more than two years he has already spent in custody, but the judge said he must serve all of his sentence.

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