A 24-year-old man is now wanted by the FBI in the murder of his wife inside the Dunkin' Donuts store where they both worked.
On Wednesday, the Baltimore division of the FBI announced a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 24-year-old Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel, who is accused of killing his wife inside the shop in Hanover, Maryland on April 12.
Patel's wife, 21-year-old Palak Bhadreshkumar Patel, was found lying in the kitchen area of the store late that evening, after would-be customers called police to report no one was in the store.
Palak Patel was pronounced dead at the scene. According to a preliminary investigation, she had been struck multiple times with an object.
Authorities believe Bhadreshkumar Patel fled the store after the killing. Anne Arundel County Police said evidence at the scene identified him as the suspect.
The FBI said Wednesday that he was last seen near Newark, New Jersey.
Bhadreshkumar Patel is wanted for first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault and dangerous weapon with intent to injure. Prosecutors in Maryland issued a federal arrest warrant Monday after he was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
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The FBI has joined the Anne Arundel County Police Department in the search for Patel and began distributing a wanted poster Wednesday.
According to the FBI, Bhadreshkumar Patel was born in Gujarat, India. He was in the United States legally, but his visa expired in March.
He is five feet, nine inches tall and weighs 165 pounds.
Anyone with information on Patel's whereabouts is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or to contact the nearest American embassy or consulate.
