The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of an Indian national accused of murdering his wife in 2015, raising the amount to as much as $1 million. The reward was previously set at $250,000 and was originally offered at $100,000 when the suspect first fled.
The fugitive, 35-year-old Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, is wanted in connection with the brutal killing of his wife, 21-year-old Palak Patel. The crime occurred on April 12, 2015, while the couple was working the night shift at a doughnut shop in Hanover, Maryland. The shop was owned by a relative of Patel.
According to investigators, the attack took place in a back room of the store shortly before midnight. Authorities believe Patel struck or stabbed his wife multiple times with an object, leaving her fatally injured. After the assault, he allegedly fled through a rear exit.
A customer later entered the shop and became suspicious when no one appeared to take his order. The customer alerted a nearby police officer, who discovered Palak Patel’s body inside the store. Investigators described the crime scene as extremely violent.
Following the killing, Patel reportedly crossed the street to the apartment he shared with his wife, where he gathered some belongings and cash before leaving the area. He then took a taxi to a hotel near Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Authorities say he checked into the hotel around 3 a.m. with no luggage and wearing only the clothes he had on.
Patel checked out of the hotel later that morning, around 10 a.m., and took a shuttle to Newark Penn Station. According to the FBI, that was the last confirmed sighting of him. His current whereabouts remain unknown.
A federal arrest warrant was issued on April 20, 2015, by the US District Court for the District of Maryland in Baltimore after Patel was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He also faces charges including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and use of a dangerous weapon with intent to cause injury.
Authorities believe Patel may have sought help from distant relatives in the United States, fled to Canada, or possibly returned to India through Canada. The FBI warns that he should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. Officials continue to urge anyone with information about his location to come forward.
