(March 5, 2015, Lawrenceville, Georgia) Gwinnett County Police Department Homicide Unit detectives have charged Matthew Leili (W/M, 47 years old) in the murder of his wife, Dominique “Nique” Leili (W/F, 44 years old at the time of her death).  The incident occurred in July 2011 near the couple’s home at 1915 Sidney Cove, unincorporated Lawrenceville.

Nique Leili was reported missing by Matthew Leili on July 11, 2011.  He reported that she had been missing with no contact since July 9, 2011.  Detectives began working the missing person case the next day.  Matthew was uncooperative with the investigation, however, no signs of foul play were discovered.

A search of the wooded area near the Leili home was conducted by friends and family on July 16, 2011.  Nique’s body was found within a few minutes of beginning the search, and the case became a homicide investigation.  The official ruling from the Medical Examiner’s Office was undetermined for both cause of death and manner of death.  However, the Medical Examiner’s Office report and the circumstances surrounding the autopsy findings were highly suspicious for homicidal violence.

A search warrant was served at the Leili home.  An extensive surveillance system was installed inside the home and several computers were seized.  A forensic search of the computers was completed, but did not reveal anything significant enough to make a criminal charge.  Although there wasn’t enough evidence to make a charge at that time, Matthew Leili was never eliminated from suspicion.

Matthew Leili moved to Vermont later in 2011, taking the couple’s two children with him.  Detectives did not have a legal basis to prevent the move.  The investigation was slowed, but never stopped.  In late 2014, a new forensic investigation was conducted on the computers seized from the Leili home.  New evidence was obtained.  GCPD detectives and the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office carefully reviewed all evidence from the entire investigation and determined that there was probable cause to charge Matthew Leili with unlawful eavesdropping and malice murder.

Matthew Leili was scheduled to appear in federal court in Atlanta on March 4, 2015.  GCPD Homicide Unit detectives and Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office investigators arrested him at the federal court building and transported him to the Gwinnett County Detention Center.  Leili remains in custody without bond.  He is charged with three counts of unlawful eavesdropping and one count of malice murder.