ATLANTA – A former Atlanta Police Officer was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a woman he met online.
Tahreem Rana, 25, was found guilty of murder, felony murder, tampering with evidence, concealing death of another, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, arson of land, and four counts of violation of office on Oct. 12.
On Monday, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shawn Ellen LaGrua sentenced Rana to serve life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 16 years.
On Aug. 22, 2014, Hapeville Police were called to a city-owned dumping ground when an employee discovered a body on fire. The victim was 26-year-old Vernecia Woodard.
Investigators said that Woodard also suffered a fatal gunshot wound to her head before her body was doused with gasoline and set on fire, less than a mile from Rana’s home.
Detectives developed leads in the case that led to Rana as the suspect, including the victim’s cell phone tower logs indicating that she arrived in Hapeville, Ga., shortly after speaking with Rana on the night of the murder.
DNA on Rana’s service weapon was also an exact match to Woodard.
An Atlanta Police officer at the time of the murder, Rana was fired and later arrested while trying to board a plane to Mexico.
