The suspect fled to Nepal after the 2010 crash that killed three teenage girls. Advocates are now pushing for his return to face charges.

HOUSTON — Nearly 16 years after three teenage girls were killed in what investigators say was a drunk-driving crash, their families are still waiting for justice.

Now, the victims’ loved ones and local advocates are renewing their push to bring the man accused in the crash back to Houston to face charges.

On July 9, 2010, Roxanne Alanis received a call that changed her life forever: Her 13-year-old sister, Avianca Cortez, had been involved in a crash.



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“She was under the sheet. It’s an image that never leaves,” Alanis said.

Investigators say the driver, Sajan Timalshina, ran a red light while intoxicated and crashed into a Ford Excursion on the U.S. 59 feeder road.

The crash killed 13-year-old Avianca Cortez, 17-year-old Rashaunda Raleigh and 13-year-old Detrihanna Davis.

A fourth teenager, 14-year-old Bennisha Davis, survived the crash but later died by suicide.

Three days after the crash, prosecutors filed charges against Timalshina, who was 25 at the time. However, authorities say he had already fled the United States and returned to his native Nepal.

“For someone to do what he did and inexplicably be allowed to remain out, and within 24 hours he’s out of the country,” said Andy Kahan with Crime Stoppers of Houston. “What a cowardly act.”

For nearly 16 years, the families have been left waiting for accountability.

“It’s been frustrating since the moment we found out he got on that plane,” Alanis said.

Now, La’Voshea Hendry with Legends and Legacies Houston Inc. and Kahan are working to revive efforts to bring Timalshina back to the United States.

“It’s unfair that you get to leave the United States when you were here as a guest on a student visa, go back to Nepal, create a family and live a life when you took four that belonged to us,” Hendry said.

The effort has the support of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. However, advocates say one major obstacle remains: The United States does not have a formal extradition treaty with Nepal.

Kahan said he has been reaching out to state leaders to explore possible options.

“I’ve been in touch with our governor. I’ve been in touch with our lieutenant governor,” Kahan said. “I plan on being in touch with a lot more people because this involves the State Department.”

Crime Stoppers of Houston is inviting the public to attend an event July 9, the anniversary of the crash, to honor the four girls and their families while raising awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Crime Stoppers headquarters on Main Street.

For Alanis, the goal is simple: to see justice finally served.

“If I could tell her anything, I would tell her that I love her, I miss her,” Alanis said. “I wish I could see her grow up, and I can’t wait until the day we finally get justice.”

KHOU 11 reached out to Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to ask whether they are working to help bring Timalshina back to the United States to face the charges against him. As of Saturday night, neither office had responded.

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