Muna Pandey, a 21-year-old nursing student from Nepal, was found dead in her Houston apartment, prompting a homicide investigation and the arrest of Bobby Singh Shah, suspected of targeting her through a sugar daddy website.
HOUSTON (AP) — The tragic death of Muna Pandey, a 21-year-old nursing student from Nepal, has been the subject of horrific new details.
Photo: Houston Chronicle/Instagram
She was discovered deceased in her apartment on August 26. The previous weekend, Pandey had been busy preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends. However, she failed to arrive at the scheduled gathering, which caused concern among her friends and family.
Authorities discovered Pandey's corpse after they received an anonymous tip regarding a deceased individual in her apartment at 6363 West Airport Boulevard.
The police discovered her to be lying in bed with multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the back of her skull, upon their arrival. The investigation revealed that she had been shot four times, and her death is being classified as a homicide.
A man, subsequently identified as 51-year-old Bobby Singh Shah, was observed standing outside her door with a gun in surveillance footage captured moments prior to the attack. Shah is shown in the video compelling Pandey to enter her residence, where he demands that she unlock the door.
Witnesses stated that Pandey had installed a security camera as a result of previous harassment, which may have captured the incident.
Shah was apprehended on August 28 during a traffic stop and has since been charged with capital homicide. Court documents indicate that he may have targeted Pandey through a sugar daddy dating website, as a woman who recognized him from the footage claimed to have met him on such a platform years ago.
In response to this, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Pandey's mother, Anita, with funeral costs and travel expenses to Houston.
Additionally, the Nepalese Association of Houston is collaborating with the consulate to expedite Anita's visa application, enabling her to attend her daughter's final arrangements.
Community members have conveyed their sorrow and outrage over the loss of a promising young woman as the investigation continues. Her friends and colleagues characterized Pandey as a diligent student with a promising future.
The case has attracted substantial media attention, leading to demands for justice and heightened awareness of violence against women.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information regarding the case to come forward as they attempt to reconstruct the events that transpired prior to Pandey's murder.
The Houston Police Department is still conducting an investigation, and the community is in mourning for the tragic loss of a life.
