Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel (born May 15, 1990) is an Indian fugitive wanted for allegedly killing his wife Palak Patel at a Dunkin' Donuts store in Hanover, Maryland, in the United States on April 12, 2015.[1] He was added to the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on April 18, 2017. Bhadreshkumar was the 514th fugitive to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. He was last seen at Newark Penn Station near his hotel in Newark, New Jersey.
| Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel | |
|---|---|
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| FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive | |
| Charges |
|
| Reward | $250,000 |
| Alias | Bhadreshkumar C. Patel |
| Description | |
| Born | May 15, 1990 Viramgam, Gujarat, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 165–170 lb (75–77 kg) |
| Spouse | Palak Patel |
| Status | |
| Added | April 18, 2017 |
| Number | 514 |
| Currently a Top Ten Fugitive | |
Background
editBhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel was born on May 15, 1990, in Viramgam, Gujarat, India. In November 2013, he married Palak Patel, and the couple came together to visit relatives in the United States in September 2014. Bhadreshkumar was 24 at the time while Palak was 21.[2]
Murder
editOn the night of April 12, 2015, Bhadreshkumar and Palak were working a night shift at a Dunkin' Donuts in Hanover, Maryland. The store was owned by a relative of Bhadreshkumar whom the couple were visiting. Surveillance footage showed Bhadreshkumar and Palak walking together in the kitchen at around 9:30 p.m. before disappearing out of view behind some racks.[3] Moments later, Bhadreshkumar re-emerged without his wife, turned off an oven, and left the store.[3]
The body of 21-year-old Palak Patel was found later that night. She had been beaten to death and stabbed multiple times with a large kitchen knife. Investigators believe the couple had an argument, with Palak wanting to return to India and Bhadreshkumar wishing to remain in the U.S. instead.[4]
Aftermath
editCustomers arriving at the Dunkin' Donuts store grew concerned when no employees came to serve them. A police officer who happened to be near the store was approached by concerned customers and checked out the scene. Upon searching the store, the officer found Palak's body. Police then checked the surveillance video and realized the killer was Bhadreshkumar, who had vanished. Bhadreshkumar was not identified as the suspect until over an hour after the murder, giving him time to escape.[5]
After the murder of Palak, Bhadreshkumar fled the store and returned to his nearby apartment on foot. He took some personal items and then got a cab to a hotel near Newark Liberty International Airport. The taxi driver reported that Bhadreshkumar was very calm during the journey. He checked into a hotel in Newark and was seen on surveillance video at the counter paying in cash for a room. He checked out the following morning.[5]
Bhadreshkumar was last seen on the morning of April 13, 2015, around 10 a.m. at Newark Penn Station in New Jersey. He took a hotel shuttle to the station and has not been seen since.[6]
Investigation
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Authorities believe Bhadreshkumar could have fled the country or could be hiding with relatives. He had a visa to be in the U.S., but it had expired by the time he carried out the murder. A report stated that because of this, there was no indication he was able to legally leave the country.[4]
An investigation with Palak's family into the murder revealed that the last conversation she had with them was about wishing to return home to India. This call was made moments before Palak was murdered by her husband and had been overheard by him. Police believe that Bhadreshkumar murdered his wife for this reason.[5]
Bhadreshkumar has connections in Canada, India, New Jersey, Kentucky, Georgia, and Illinois. A reward of up to $250,000 is available for information that leads to his whereabouts.[7][8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Two Years On The Run For The Murder Of His Wife, FBI Puts Indian Man On Its Top 10 'Most Wanted List'". India Times. April 19, 2017. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
- ^ "Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel". Federal Bureau of Investigation. U.S. Department of Justice. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ^ a b "Surveillance: Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel & Palak Patel At Dunkin Donuts". CBS Baltimore. April 12, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ a b Jha, Lalit K (April 19, 2017). "FBI puts Indian who killed his wife in US on its 'Most Wanted List'". Live Mint. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Public's Help Sought in Search For Man Wanted in Wife's Fatal Stabbing - Crime Watch Daily". True Crime Daily. February 8, 2016. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- ^ "FBI Puts Gujarati Man On 'Most Wanted' List Over Wife's 'Brutal' Murder At Dunkin Donuts". NDTV. April 19, 2017. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- ^ Bui, Lynh (April 18, 2017). "Latest on FBI's most wanted list: Man accused of killing wife in Md. doughnut shop". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
- ^ "BHADRESHKUMAR CHETANBHAI PATEL". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved May 26, 2023.