"I can only imagine what Muna's mother is going through"
A ‘Sugar Daddy’ accused of murdering a student was arrested after police received a tip-off from another woman.
Muna Pandey, a 21-year-old from Nepal who was studying at Houston Community College, Texas, was found dead inside her apartment on August 26, 2024.
Bobby Shah was charged with capital murder over her killing after security footage placed him at her home.
Police revealed Muna had been shot three times in the stomach and once in the back of the head when her body was found.
After security footage from Muna’s front door was made public, a woman called the Houston Police Department and said she knew Shah from a ‘Sugar Daddy’ website.
The owner of a restaurant that Muna used to work at also recognised Shah and said he was a frequent patron who reportedly handed big tips to women he took a liking to.
Prosecutors said Shah was arrested during a traffic stop on August 28 wearing the bloodstained clothes he was also seen wearing in the footage.
Reportedly, Shah may have had a profile on a so-called ‘Sugar Daddy’ website, a service that connects men who want to buy gifts for women in exchange for sexual favours.
It is unclear if Shah and Muna had a pre-existing relationship of this nature.
But the apartment’s security footage showed a man, believed to be Shah, approaching Muna’s door armed with a pistol.
The suspect held Muna at gunpoint while she was holding a shoe box, a shopping bag, a black jacket and a purse.
After repeated threats, he managed to enter her apartment and lock the door behind him.
The suspect left the apartment an hour later and according to police, he was holding Muna’s purse.
In court, Shah was denied bond and if convicted, he could face the death penalty.
The victim’s mother Anita Pandey was not present in court due to being in Nepal. Her visa has been approved so she can attend her daughter’s funeral in Southwest Houston.
Prosecutor Rebecca Marshall said: “I can only imagine what Muna’s mother is going through being halfway across the world, so I wanted them to know what would happen in court, what they could expect.”
Before Shah was charged, Anita said she wanted the maximum punishment for her daughter’s killer.
Anita and her daughter were in regular contact.
Muna mentioned being in a relationship with a white American man and had expressed concerns about the relationship’s stability.
Anita received the news of her daughter’s death from Drona Gautam, the Vice President of the Nepalese Association of Houston and Muna’s friend.
Anita said: “Her friend informed me of Muna’s death early on Tuesday. I was devastated when the caller broke the bad news while sobbing.
“I fainted as soon as I heard the news. I’ve lost my support, my everything.”
“I don’t know what to do next; I can’t think ahead.”
Muna planned to visit Nepal in 2025 after completing her studies.
Muna added: “But now she’s gone, never to return.”
Prosecutors recommended Shah’s bail be denied until his next hearing in December 2024.
Ms Marshall said: “I felt it was incumbent upon us to definitely ask for no bail in this case.
“I believe he poses a grave risk of danger to our community.”
Under his current bond conditions, Shah must surrender any passports he has and not contact Muna’s family.
Meanwhile, Wilvin J Carter, defending, said:
“We’re looking forward to proving his innocence in the court of law.”
Mr Carter said his client is from India and moved to the US during his childhood.
He added: “He was a VP at a company, and I’m not at liberty to give that name, but he’s a pretty smart guy, well-educated, very articulate.”
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