Third Nepali-Speaking Detainee Dies in U.S. Custody Within 12 Months

James Rimal, a Nepali-speaking man who faced indictment by a Grand Jury for the murder of Mrs. Chandra Maya Paudel Rimal in Ohio, USA, has passed away while in prison.

He sustained severe injuries after attempting suicide and was promptly taken to the hospital. However, the local jail administration has not disclosed specific details about the circumstances of his death.

Rimal was indicted on multiple charges on April 5, but all charges were dismissed by April 9. His relatives confirmed his death on June 9.

Rimal’s indictment on April 5 included seven counts: 2 counts of murder, 1 count of felonious assault, 1 count of strangulation, 1 count of tampering with evidence, 1 count of gross abuse of a corpse, and 1 count of domestic violence.

These charges carried potential sentences varying from several months to life imprisonment. The dismissal of all charges on April 9 suggests that his injuries may have occurred prior to this date.

In early April, Rimal was hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Police informed his family of his passing during treatment. His body was later identified by relatives and cremated in Akron. However, specific details surrounding the circumstances of his death remain undisclosed by the Summit County Jail or police.

James Rimal was arrested by the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department after the discovery of his wife, Chandra Maya Paudel Rimal’s body in the woods in February. Following his arrest, their three children were placed under the care of Summit County Children’s Services.

Rimal and his wife were Bhutanese refugees who spoke Nepali and had resided in Cuyahoga Falls for less than five years.

This incident marks the third death of a Nepali-speaking individual in U.S. custody within the past 12 months, raising concerns about detainee treatment and prison conditions.

Previous Deaths of Nepali Speakers in U.S. Custody: Rimal’s death follows that of 34-year-old Nepali citizen Subash Shrestha, who died while detained at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center in Texas on November 13. Shrestha had entered the United States without a visa, prompting concerns about conditions and healthcare within immigration facilities.

Additionally, 27-year-old Nepali immigrant Manish Kunwar passed away at Rikers Island prison on October 5. Reports from the New York City Board of Corrections highlighted oversights and negligence by correctional officials, contributing to Kunwar’s death.

These deaths underscore significant concerns regarding the welfare and treatment of Nepali detainees in the United States over the past year.