(RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENN.) A 41-year-old Smyrna, TN man was found guilty on rape charges October 21st and is now awaiting sentencing.

Ilaz Neziri was arrested under a sealed indictment stemming from a case that was investigated by the Murfreesboro Police Special Victims Unit. According to the original arrest report filed by former MPD Detective Tommy Roberts, who now works for the MTSU Police Department, Neziri was at a house party on Florence Road where he was accused of raping a woman.

The accusations were reported in May of 2020, when Murfreesboro Police were called to a residence at 3AM where a party was reportedly taking place. Two females at the home told police they believed their 22-year-old friend was raped by Neziri during the party. Officers talked to the victim who appeared to be heavily intoxicated. A police report shows that prior to police arriving, the victim told emergency dispatchers that she had been raped.  

After gathering details, law enforcement turned to the suspect who denied having any sexual contact with the 22-year-old woman. However, another subject inside the house said that the victim and Neziri went into a bedroom at the residence for 5 to 10-minutes and later returned to the party.

The MPD Special Victims Unit took over the case and presented their findings to a Rutherford County Grand Jury, eventually leading to the indictment of Neziri. In court, several hearings were rescheduled in 2021, followed by multiple continuances being granted - - leading into 2022.

In late October (2022), Neziri appeared in court for trial. The end result of court led to the 41-year-old man being found guilty of raping the victim. Ilaz Neziri is now behind bars and awaiting his sentencing hearing, which will be on Friday, January 13, 2023.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

SOURCE:
Rutherford Co. Courts
MPD Incident #20-0007431