JEFFERSON COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A California man wanted for allegedly killing his wife was arrested after a traffic stop in Jefferson County.
Zheer Malassab, 45, was arrested Dec. 11 after Pennsylvania State Police were informed that a man, later determined to be Malassab, was in the area and allegedly had involvement in a homicide in California. Troopers were on scene of tractor tractor-trailer crash on Interstate 80 when Malassab allegedly passed them in a White Honda Pilot.
Troopers then followed, caught up to and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Malassab. However, Malassab allegedly continued eastbound on I-80, leading troopers into Pine Creek Township before ultimately stopping his vehicle, according to the criminal complaint.
Malassab was taken into custody, with PSP confirming that he had an active warrant from the Vallejo Police Department in California for felony murder for allegedly killing his wife.
On Dec. 9, the Vallejo Police Department was contacted over a missing person. The caller told officers that her friend had not shown up for work, which raised concerns surrounding the victim’s well-being. She also told police that the missing person, Malassab’s wife, had gone to a mutual friend’s residence after he had allegedly threatened to kill her.
Officers conducted a welfare check but received no answer at the door, noting that during the canvassing of the area, none of the neighbors reported any disturbances coming from the residence. Investigators also attempted to contact the victim and Malassab by phone, but there was no response.
Police then issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert for Malassab’s wife and entered her information into the California Department of Justice’s Missing and Unidentified Persons Section.
A day later, on Dec. 10, a maintenance worker at the apartment complex entered the residence and found her unresponsive. When officers arrived on scene, they found the victim to have suffered at least one gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators identified Malassab as the suspect in the homicide and proceeded to issue an arrest warrant for him. While searching for the victim’s vehicle, they had discovered it had traveled to Pennsylvania, with officers contacting PSP and issuing them a BOLO.
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Malassab allegedly admitted to shooting his wife after being arrested by Pennsylvania State Police.
He is now being held in the Jefferson County Prison without bail, awaiting extradition back to California. Malassab has been charged with one felony count of arrest prior to requisition. When extradited back to California, Malassab will face murder charges, according to the Vallejo Police Department.
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