FBI’s Most Wanted: Bhadreshkumar Patel
Bhadreshkumar Patel, a man from Gujarat, is currently on the FBI’s list of most wanted fugitives, having been accused of murdering his wife, Palak Patel, in Maryland back in 2015. The terrifying incident took place in a donut shop where they both worked, and authorities believe he has fled to India.
Patel, now 34, reportedly attacked Palak multiple times. This brutal episode occurred on April 12, 2015, and eight days later, a federal arrest warrant was issued for him. Since then, he’s been on the run.
Authorities are making a renewed push to locate him, marking the tenth anniversary of the murder. The FBI has charged Patel with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and other serious offenses. Surveillance footage from that day showed the couple walking towards the kitchen, but then they vanished from sight. A customer later alerted the police about Palak’s body being discovered there.
Investigators noted that Palak, just 21 at the time, wanted to return to India, a desire Patel opposed. Their visas had expired shortly before the tragic event.
FBI Special Agent Jonathan Schaffer noted, “He didn’t want her to leave,” suggesting he might have felt her departure would bring dishonor. Meanwhile, Police Chief Amal E. Awad highlighted that Palak worked tirelessly to support her existence in the U.S. and her family back home in India.
Patel’s last known whereabouts were in the Newark area of New Jersey, but authorities suspect he may have returned to India. Schaffer speculated that Patel could be with a distant relative who fled to Canada or that he might have traveled to India via Canada.
Since his addition to the most wanted list in 2017, the reward for information leading to his capture has increased from $100,000 to $250,000. The FBI describes Patel as “Armed and Extremely Dangerous” and is asking the public for help in finding him.
Awad expressed urgency, stating, “As long as Bhadreshkumar Patel is free, our community’s safety remains at risk.” The focus, he added, is not just on capturing the murderer but understanding the circumstances surrounding Palak’s tragic death, which has left many questions unanswered.
