James Rimal, a Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugee who immigrated to the United States nearly nine years ago, has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Chandra Maya Poudel-Rimal. Her body was found near Summit Metro Park on Tuesday, February 27th, 2024. Rimal is currently in custody at the Summit County Jail and is scheduled for a video arraignment in Stow Municipal Court on Thursday, February 29th.
The Cuyahoga Falls Police Department stated to NepYork- ‘James Rimal is in custody. He has been transferred to the Summit County Jail. Rimal will be video arraigned tomorrow, February 29, 2024, in Stow Municipal Court.’
Authorities are still investigating the case and have not released further details. Following the mother’s death and the father’s arrest, Summit County Children’s Services placed the couple’s three children with family members. Police have not disclosed which side of the family the children are currently staying with. The couple has one son and two daughters, the youngest of whom was born in 2022 and is now almost 15 months old.
On February 21st, 2024, James Rimal reported his wife, Chandra Maya, missing to the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department. He stated that he woke up that morning and found her gone. Concerned authorities searched the family home, surrounding areas, and interviewed neighbors, but James reportedly provided no helpful information about her possible whereabouts.
On February 27th, police searching near Middlebury Road, Kent, Ohio, located the body of a deceased Asian female. The woman was later identified as Chandra Maya Poudel-Rimal. The scene was processed by investigators, and warrants were subsequently issued for James Rimal’s arrest. He faces multiple charges, including murder, strangulation, tampering with evidence, domestic violence, making false alarms, and abuse of a corpse.
James and Chandra Maya were Bhutanese refugees who came to the United States from Nepal and married after settling here. They lived in their Cuyahoga Falls home with their three children for less than five years.
NepYork News Staff
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