Indian American Cancer Researcher Reportedly Murdered During Morning Jog in Texas

August 10, 2020

An Indian American pharmacist was killed during her morning jog in Texas last week.

Heartless killing: Sarmistha Sen, a 43-year-old mother of two, was reportedly murdered around Chisholm Trail in Plano, Texas on August 1, Hindustan Times reports.

A witness discovered the victim’s body below a creek near the area.
According to the Plano Police Department, a “person of interest” in the homicide case was already in custody.

Possible suspect: The “person of interest” is 29-year-old Bakari Moncrief, the man was arrested for a burglary that happened near the area where Sen’s body was found, according to Dallas television station WFAA. Moncrief has since been charged with burglary and a $1 million bond. Further proof is needed to see if he is connected to the murder of Sarmistha Sen.

Just as authorities were investigating the homicide scene, officers arrested Moncrief at a gas station after they noticed he matched the description of a burglary suspect.
Moncrief was caught on a surveillance camera by a Ring Doorbell as he broke into the house, and repeatedly uttering “I’m not a f***ing coward,” reported NBCDFW.
According to the police affidavit, Moncrief used “the outside electrical outlet to charge his cellular telephone,” and told the police “I ain’t a coward,” as he was being detained; noting that the voice was similar to the Ring video recording from the burglarized home.
“We have our suspicions, but we have to have proof. And that’s what they [police] are looking for right now is to obtain proof as to whether or not this individual is or is not responsible for her death,” Plano police spokesperson David Tilley was quoted as saying.

Cancer researcher: Aside from being a pharmacist, Sen was also a researcher who worked closely with cancer patients.

Originally from Sindri in the Indian state of Jharkhand, Sen moved to Plano after marrying her husband, Arindam Roy.
Sen was buried on Friday, leaving behind Roy and their two kids, 12-year-old Neil and 6-year-old Ryan.
Sen’s family has set up a CaringBridge website and a GoFundMe page to commemorate her life and work.
The collected funds will be “used for charities that are devoted to issues that Sarmistha deeply cared about such as Cancer Awareness, Cancer research, healthy living and protection of the environment.”

Feature Image via Caring Bridge/SarmisthaSen

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