Current Location of Muhammad Altantawi: Insights Ahead of Dateline NBC

Muhammad Altantawi is a Michigan resident who was convicted for the 2017 murder of his mother, Nada Huranieh, and received a sentence ranging from 35 to 60 years in prison. Despite committing the crime at the age of 16, Atlantawi is currently incarcerated and will continue to serve his time.

The case is highlighted in Dateline NBC’s season 32 episode 44, airing on September 20 at 10/9c.

Allegedly, Altantawi used a toxin-coated cloth to smother his mother before disposing of her body out of their second-story window to disguise the act as an accident. Now 20 years old, he was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder after a trial in March 2022 at the Oakland County Circuit Court.

The Evidence that Led to Muhammad Altantawi’s Conviction

The prosecution presented compelling evidence that sealed Muhammad’s fate. Security footage from within the family’s expansive 10,000-square-foot home in Farmington Hills captured a figure moving Huranieh’s lifeless body from a bathroom to a window. Rather than alerting authorities, he attempted to make it appear as if she had fallen, subsequently dragging her body back into the bathroom and closing the curtains.

In addition to the video evidence, phone records indicated a series of early morning calls between Muhammad and his father, Bassel Altantawi, around 4:30 a.m.—just moments before her body was discovered. This timeline raised suspicions of possible collusion between Muhammad and his father in the murder.

Furthermore, there were no signs of defensive wounds on Nada Huranieh, a renowned athlete. Prosecutors argued she was likely smothered with a toxin-laced cloth before the body was positioned. The absence of a struggle corroborated the notion of premeditation, ultimately leading the jury to convict Muhammad of first-degree murder.

Family Dynamics and Possible Motive

The case also revealed a convoluted family dynamic. Nada Huranieh was in the process of divorcing Bassel Altantawi, Muhammad’s father, and had started to reclaim her autonomy by working as a fitness instructor.

The prosecution suggested that Muhammad may have sided with his father and resented his mother for her efforts to become independent. At the time of Nada’s murder, Bassel was estranged from the family due to his legal troubles and was under house arrest for pleading guilty to healthcare fraud.

These factors possibly fueled Muhammad’s alleged motivation for the murder, as his loyalty to his father and resentment toward his mother combined in a tragic manner. The defense, however, argued that Muhammad was merely a teenager caught in the turmoil of his parents’ divorce and that he had experienced abuse from both sides.

The defense also emphasized the lack of physical evidence linking Muhammad Altantawi to the crime scene, but the jury ultimately disagreed, focusing on the evidence of premeditation and the family’s tension as critical factors in their decision.

A Maximum Sentence of 60 Years

Ultimately, Muhammad Altantawi was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and is facing a prison sentence of 35 to 60 years. His formal sentencing occurred the day after the jury rendered its verdict.

The gravity of his actions, alongside Michigan’s sentencing laws regarding first-degree murder, ensures a long duration behind bars for Muhammad Altantawi.

During the trial, the defense criticized the investigation, suggesting that other potential suspects—including a past boyfriend of Nada’s—did not receive an equal level of scrutiny.

However, they maintained that the circumstantial evidence against Muhammad Altantawi indicated thorough planning, citing his close relationship with his father as a significant factor.

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