In a heartbreaking incident that has left the Nepali community in the United States reeling, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to cover funeral expenses for four members of a Nepali family found dead in Manassas Park, Virginia. The campaign, initiated by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Virginia Chapter, aims to raise $50,000 to ensure the family receives a dignified farewell in accordance with their cultural and traditional practices. Nearly $12,000 has been collected so far.
On the night of Thursday, June 5, 2025, Manassas Park Police responded to a welfare check request at approximately 10:40 p.m. at a basement apartment in the 9400 block of Lanae Lane. The landlord, concerned about the well-being of his tenants, had alerted authorities. Upon arrival, officers discovered a devastating scene: four individuals—Santosh Pariyar, 38, Anju Shrestha, 36, their 8-year-old daughter, and 2-year-old son—were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds. A firearm was recovered at the scene, and the police are investigating the incident as a possible murder-suicide, though they have not disclosed who fired the weapon or provided further details about the circumstances. The bodies were transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Manassas for autopsies, but the report has yet to be released.
Santosh Pariyar, originally from Palungtar in Nepal’s Gorkha district, had moved to the United States about eight years ago with his wife, Anju Shrestha, after living in Kathmandu’s Basundhara area. The couple, who had an intercaste marriage, initially arrived in the U.S. on visitor visas and later applied for asylum, a process that remained pending at the time of their deaths. Their two children, an 8-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son, were born in the United States, according to family sources. The family had recently relocated to Manassas Park, where neighbors described the children as lively, often seen playing outside, and the parents as quiet and kind.
The sudden and tragic loss of the entire family has sent shockwaves through the Nepali community. Family members, including Santosh’s relative Subash Pariyar, expressed disbelief at the tragedy, noting that there were no apparent signs of distress. “We would talk on the phone from time to time, and everything seemed fine. There were no signs of any problems. We can’t even begin to guess how this happened,” Subash told Khasokhas, a Nepali diaspora news outlet. He has urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind the incident and appealed to the Nepali community in the U.S. for financial support to cover funeral costs.
The GoFundMe campaign emphasizes the need to honor the lives of Santosh, Anju, and their children through traditional Nepali funeral rites, as desired by their extended family in Nepal. The funds raised will cover funeral and memorial expenses, as well as legal, travel, and other arrangements related to this devastating loss.
The incident has also sparked broader conversations within the Nepali diaspora about mental health and domestic challenges faced by immigrant families. The tragedy follows other recent cases of violence involving Nepali families in the U.S., including the disappearance and presumed murder of Mamta Kafle Bhatt in Manassas Park in 2024, whose case remains unresolved. Community members have expressed concern about the pressures of cultural adjustment, financial struggles, and the stigma surrounding mental health issues, which may contribute to such tragedies.
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Deepak Pariyar
View More PostsJournalist Deepak Pariyar is the editor of Khasokhas, a publication amplifying the voices of the Nepali diaspora in the USA since 2012. A champion against discrimination, he has held leadership roles in journalist organizations.
