A ‘sugar daddy’ accused of murdering a Texas student was caught by police after a woman ‘instantly’ recognised him on a dating app from pictures posted by police.
Muna Pandey, a 21-year-old from Nepal who was studying nursing at Houston Community College, was found dead inside her apartment on August 26.
Bobby Shah, 51, was charged with capital murder in her killing after security footage showed him in his home.
Police revealed that the slain student had been shot three times in the torso and once in the back of the head when her body was discovered.
After security footage from Pandey’s front door was made public, a woman called the Houston Police Department and said she knew Shah from a “Sugar Daddy” website, according to the complaint, reviewed by Fox News.
Muna Pandey, 21 (pictured), an only child from Nepal who was studying nursing at Houston Community College, was found dead inside her apartment on August 26.
Bobby Shah, 51, was charged with capital murder in her killing. After security footage of Pandey’s front door was released, a woman called the Houston Police Department and said she knew Shah through a “sugar daddy” website. (Pictured: Shah in court on Tuesday)
The owner of the local restaurant where Pandey used to work also recognised Shah in the video and said he was a frequent customer who reportedly gave large tips to women he liked.
Shah was arrested during a traffic stop on Aug. 28 wearing the same blood-stained clothing he was also seen wearing in the footage, prosecutors said.
CBS Austin Shah is reported to have had a profile on a website called ‘Sugar Daddy’, a service that connects men who want to buy gifts for women in exchange for sexual favours.
It’s unclear whether Shah and Pandey had a pre-existing relationship of this nature, but court records obtained by KPRC say security footage from the apartment showed Shah approaching her door armed with a gun.
According to court documents, Shah pointed a gun at Pandey while she held a shoe box, a shopping bag, a black jacket and a purse.
The owner of the local restaurant where Pandey worked (pictured) also recognised Shah in the video and said he was a frequent customer who reportedly gave large tips to women he liked.
After repeated threats, he managed to enter the woman’s apartment and lock the door. He left an hour later and police say he was carrying Pandey’s bag.
After repeated threats, he managed to enter the woman’s apartment and lock the door. He left an hour later and police say he was carrying Pandey’s bag.
During the court hearing on Tuesday, Shah was seen wearing an orange jumpsuit and looking at the ground. He was denied bail and could face the death penalty if convicted.
Pandey’s friends and family were heard sobbing in the courtroom as prosecutors detailed what happened to their loved one. Korean Civil Protection Commission reported.
Several members of the Nepalese Association of Houston also showed up to show their support.
The association’s vice president, Drona Gautam, was a friend of Pandey and could not understand why anyone would want to kill her.
“How could that person do that?” Gautam said. “I can’t even think about it.”
Anita Pandey, the victim’s mother, was not present in court Tuesday because she is still in Nepal, but her visa has reportedly been approved so she can attend her daughter’s funeral at 4 p.m. Monday in southwest Houston.
“I can only imagine what Muna’s mother is going through being on the other side of the world, so I wanted them to know what was going to happen in court, what they could expect,” prosecutor Rebecca Marshall told reporters after the hearing.
Before Shah was identified as a suspect and charged, Anita said last week that she wanted the maximum punishment for her daughter’s killer.
Shah was arrested during a traffic stop on Aug. 28 wearing the same blood-stained clothing he was also seen wearing in the footage, prosecutors said.
Pandey’s friends described her as “caring” and “confident.” They never heard from her about Shah.
Anita was in regular contact with her daughter, who mentioned being in a relationship with a white American man and had expressed concerns about the stability of the relationship.
Pandey was an only child and her mother raised money for her to study thousands of miles away at community college.
She traveled to the U.S. in 2021 to begin her bachelor’s degree and had not returned to her home country since then. Kathmandu Post reported.
Anita received the news of her daughter’s death from Gautam, the day after her body was discovered.
“I was informed of Muna’s death by her friend early on Tuesday. I was devastated when the caller broke the bad news to me through sobs,” Anita said.
‘I fainted as soon as I heard the news. I lost my support, my everything. I don’t know what to do next; I can’t think about the future.’
His heartbroken mother said Pandey had planned to visit Nepal next year after completing his studies.
“But now he’s gone and he’s never coming back,” Anita said.
Pandey’s friends described her as “caring” and “confident.” They never heard from her about Shah.
His heartbroken mother said Pandey had planned to visit Nepal next year after completing his studies at Houston Community College (pictured)
Anita Pandey, the victim’s mother, was not present in court because she is still in Nepal, but her visa has reportedly been approved so she can attend her daughter’s funeral at 4 p.m. Monday in southwest Houston.
TO GoFundMe The page was created to raise money for the young student’s funeral expenses.
As of Sunday afternoon, more than $37,000 had been raised to give Pandey “the send-off he deserves.”
Prosecutors have recommended that Shah be denied bail until his next hearing in December.
“I felt it was incumbent upon us to ask that he not be granted bail in this case,” Marshall said. “I believe he poses a grave risk to our community.”
Under his current bail conditions, he must surrender any passports he has and not communicate with Pandey’s family.
Shah’s defense attorney said his client is innocent and in good spirits.
“We look forward to proving his innocence in the court of law,” said defense attorney Wilvin J. Carter.
Carter revealed that Shah is from India and moved to the US during his childhood.
“He was a vice president of a company and I’m not at liberty to give his name, but he’s a very intelligent, well-educated and very articulate guy,” Carter said.
