South Carolina man arrested for Murders of Gujarati couple

Ahmedabad

Jasper County(South Carolina state, America) sheriff’s deputies have arrested a Yemassee, South Carolina, man August 16 in connection with the murders of an Indian American couple from Gujarat at a motel in Point South, South Carolina.

Kantibhai Patel, 72, and his wife Hansaben Patel, 67, were fatally shot on the morning of August 16 at the Point South-based motel where the couple had lived and worked at for the past 10 years.

Hours later, Joshua Poacher, 20, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder, sheriff’s officials said, as reported in the Jasper County Sun Times.

Sheriff Greg Jenkins said Poacher was arrested without incident at a hotel in Ridgeland, South Carolina, according to PTI reports.

“A beautiful couple, no doubt,” Jenkins said. “Lives were taken from them, senselessly. You could not give an account for such a tragedy; why an individual would do such a thing?”

Jenkins said deputies tracked down Poacher through attempted use of stolen credit cards he took from the slain Patels. Authorities also used video surveillance footage and received tips.

Back at Anand in Gujarat, kin of an elderly couple called on government to take steps to ensure safety of residents staying abroad. Brother of Kanti Bhai, Jayanti Bhai Patel, said the govt should take strict steps to ensure safety. Jayanti Bhai Patel added the accused managed to escape with some cash and credit cards of the couple. Reportedly, hours after the incident police nabbed a 20-year-old for the murder as he used the couple’s credit cards.

Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj in her tweets said: sorry to know about the murder an elderly Indian couple in South Carolina. Our Ambassador is seized of the matter.Our Embassy official from Washington is reaching there.