Florida | Young Hungarian accused of targeting, killing elderly gay men could face death penalty under new law

A Hungarian national accused in the murders of two elderly, disabled men in South Florida faces second-degree murder charges.

While some reports have discussed the potential for capital punishment, Florida law currently restricts the death penalty to first-degree murder convictions, and federal constitutional law prohibits automatic death sentences for any class of person, including undocumented immigrants.

Zsolt Zsolyomi, 26, a native of Hungary, entered the United States on a 90-day visa waiver in 2022 but overstayed, rendering him an undocumented immigrant according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In the summer of 2024, he was arrested in Miami Beach on charges including petit theft and strong-armed robbery. ICE issued a detainer for his deportation, but he was released under supervision with an ankle monitor instead of immediate removal. He subsequently disabled the monitoring device and became a fugitive.

Elderly gay men

Zsolyomi allegedly altered his appearance and began seeking out elderly, retired men in Florida’s gay bars. Investigators linked him to at least two victims with a similar modus operandi: engaging them in intimate encounters before robbing them. When discovered or confronted, he allegedly killed them. The first victim was strangled in his apartment; a second victim was also found strangled in his vehicle.

Police linked Zsolyomi to two separate homicide cases in late 2024. The first occurred around Nov. 21, 2024, in Miami Beach, where 66-year-old Carlos Villaquiran was found dead in his apartment.

Authorities described Villaquiran as an elderly, disabled man. Evidence—including surveillance video, fingerprints, and texts—indicated Zsolyomi had been in an intimate relationship with him. Police stated the victim was strangled.

The second case involved a homicide in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, where another elderly, disabled man was killed by strangulation. Both victims were members of the LGBTQ+ community, and investigators concluded Zsolyomi targeted elderly gay men, robbing them to fund his flight from authorities or to cover up the crimes.

Miami police described the suspect’s actions as predatory and noted that his arrest likely prevented additional murders.

DNA, fingerprints, surveillance footage

Zsolyomi was arrested in downtown Miami on Feb. 19, 2025, following a joint investigation by Miami and Miami Beach police. He faces two counts of second-degree murder. Evidence cited in arrest warrants includes DNA, fingerprints, and surveillance footage showing him at crime scenes (at one point with dyed blonde hair). He has pleaded not guilty; his attorney entered the plea on his behalf during a 2025 arraignment.

Regarding his immigration status, ICE confirmed Zsolyomi was slated for deportation months before the murders but was not removed in time. Reports indicate he changed his appearance multiple times to evade detection after absconding from supervision.

Sentencing and the Law

Florida allows the death penalty for first-degree murder convictions, provided a jury finds that aggravating factors outweigh mitigating ones. However, Zsolyomi is currently charged with second-degree murder, a felony that carries a maximum of life in prison but is not a capital offense.

In early 2025, Florida enacted a controversial provision under which undocumented immigrants (referred to in the law as "unauthorized aliens") convicted of capital felonies could be sentenced to death.

While Florida enacted Senate Bill 4-C in February 2025—which sought to mandate the death penalty for "unauthorized aliens" convicted of capital felonies—the law’s application remains in legal limbo.

In April 2025, a federal court issued a preliminary injunction blocking the measure, citing conflicts with the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on mandatory death sentences.

Because Zsolyomi currently faces second-degree murder charges—which are not capital-eligible—and because of these ongoing federal stays, the "automatic" death penalty provision does not currently apply to his proceedings as they move toward trial in 2026.

While some media outlets have speculated on the impact of Florida’s strict immigration stance, there is no enacted law that mandates an "automatic" death penalty for undocumented immigrants. Under the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Woodson v. North Carolina, mandatory death sentences are unconstitutional, as the Eighth Amendment requires an individualized sentencing process.

Any potential death sentence—should charges be upgraded to first-degree murder—would involve lengthy appeals, potentially lasting a decade or more.

As of February 2026, the case remains in the pretrial phase. Zsolyomi is held without bond in Miami-Dade County corrections.

In Hungary, where capital punishment was abolished in 1990, the case has drawn attention in media like Daily News Hungary and Blikk.

Zsolyomi's mother expressed shock but stated that if guilty, he should face consequences. While Hungarian officials cannot intervene in the U.S. judicial process, diplomatic discussions often occur if a foreign national faces the death penalty, as the European Union remains a staunch opponent of the practice.

Source: DPN, Daily News Hungary, JohnWoods, Staff, AI, February 26, 2026

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