Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, a 26-year-old wanted for the April 2015 murder of his wife in Maryland, has been named to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.
Patel is wanted for allegedly killing his wife by striking her multiple times with an object while they were both working at a donut shop in Hanover, Maryland, on April 12, 2015. A local arrest warrant was issued in the District Court of Maryland for Anne Arundel County on April 13, 2015, and Patel was charged with first degree murder, second degree murder, first degree assault, second degree assault, and dangerous weapon with intent to injure. A federal arrest warrant was issued in the United States District Court, District of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, on April 20, 2015, after Patel was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Patel was last known to be in the Newark, New Jersey, area.
Original news release: On Sunday, April 12, 2015 at approximately 10:51 p.m., the Anne Arundel County Police Department responded to the Dunkin Donuts located at 7657 Arundel Mills Boulevard, Hanover, Maryland for a walk up complaint. Patrons had notified an officer that no employees were present in the Dunkin Donuts. An officer entered the business and did not observe any employees behind the counter. As the officer checked the business he located a female lying in the kitchen area. The female sustained severe injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel. The female employee of Dunkin Donuts was the victim of an apparent homicide. The victim has been identified as Palak Bhadreskumar Patel, 21, of the 1600 block of Cheston Lane, Hanover, Maryland.
The Anne Arundel County Homicide Unit responded and assumed command of the investigation. Several witnesses were located and transported to the Criminal Investigation Division for interviews. Evidence collected at the scene identified the suspect as her husband, identified as Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel . Mr. Patel is also an employee of the Dunkin Donuts. The investigation revealed Mr. Patel struck his wife multiple times with an object causing her death before fleeing the business. This is not a random crime as the victim and suspect were known to each other.
Several patrol units assisted by aviation responded to the area and conducted numerous canvasses for the suspect. An arrest warrant has been obtained for Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, 24, of the 1600 block of Cheston Lane, Hanover, Maryland. Mr. Patel has been charged with the following: First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Second Degree Assault, and Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Injure.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel.
If you have any information concerning this person, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate.
