Police seeking public’s help to solve local imam’s death
The investigation into the homicide of a well-regarded leader in the local Somali and Muslim communities is continuing and police are asking for assistance in solving the case.
Mohamed Hassan Adam, 48, was found dead around 3:30 p.m. Friday. His death has been ruled a homicide, but official information about the cause of his death has not yet been released.
Adam, who was an imam at Masjid Abu Hurairah mosque on the Northeast Side, was a prominent member of the local Muslim and Somali communities. Several people within those communities have reached out to The Dispatch expressing concerns over how the investigation into Adam’s missing persons report was handled and the speed with which Adam’s remains are being handled by the Franklin County Coroner’s office.
A missing persons report filed at 1:30 p.m. Thursdayindicated Adam had left his home at about 7 p.m. the day before to drive to a day care center on Oakland Park Avenue, about two miles away, to pick up his child. Adam is reported to have never made it to the center.
Columbus police said that same day a detective began following procedure for missing persons cases involving adults, including assessing whether there was any information to indicate Adam was at risk.
“In this case, we did not receive any indication that he was in imminent danger,” police said in a statement.
According to the report, Adam was believed to be in an orange GMC van that belonged to the day care center. The van was located about 26 hours after the missing persons report was filed in a parking lot on the 1400 block of Windsor Avenue, near the intersection of Joyce and Windsor avenues.
Records provided to The Dispatch by Columbus police indicate there was no 911 call made about the body being found. The person who made the discovery called the missing persons unit directly, according to radio traffic.
Police said Sunday there was no information leading them to believe that Adam’s death was the result of a hate crime.
On Monday, Dr. Anahi Ortiz, the county coroner, said her office has been in touch with local Muslim leaders to reassure them that they’re working as quickly as possible to release Adam’s body for burial. However, Ortiz said there are certain things a coroner is required to do by law that may slow the process down, especially with the Christmas holiday. No more details were provided.
Muslim burial customs often involve burial within a 24- to 48-hour window following death; however, one local Muslim leader said that there are misconceptions surrounding the burial rituals.
Imam Horsed Noah, outreach director of the Somali Islamic Centers of Ohio, said, “We believe that when a person dies, if it’s a righteous person like the imam, then he has to meet his Lord in heaven, and we don’t want to keep him here.”
The Islamic faith recommends that a body be buried as soon as possible, but delays are allowed, especially in instances where there is an investigation into cause of death, as in Adam’s case.
“But if there’s a necessity like in this case, police are investigating the case, then it’s OK, and people need to understand that,” Noah said.
On Sunday, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther offered his condolences to Adam’s family, friends and congregation, saying his passing left a “great void.”
“I ask that residents remain patient to allow (police) to investigate his death fully as quickly as possible,” Ginther added.
Police said Monday that they were aware of Adam’s religious beliefs and took care at the scene to be respectful of those beliefs while also conducting the work necessary to gather evidence to help solve the case.
A march and service to honor Adam’s life and to express concerns over the handling of his case, as well as other homicides cases involving Somali victims, is being planned for Friday, according to local community leaders. Additional details about those events have not yet been finalized.
The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-islamic Relations is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477.
Dispatch reporter Yilun Cheng contributed to this story. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner