From left, Harris County Distrct Attorney Sean Teare, Houston Police Department Chief J. Noe Diaz Jr. and Harris County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Thomas Diaz and are joined by representatives from national, state and local law enforcement agencies to announce the first Houston “Most Wanted List” at the FBI Houston Field Office in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.
Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle
Justice
Regarding “Families struggle to cope after 3 teens die in wreck,” (July 11): Justice delayed is justice denied, but when a suspect flees the country entirely, the delay transforms into agonizing, generational torment.
For nearly 16 years, the families of Avianca Cortez, Rashaunda Raleigh and Detrihanna Davis have carried the crushing pain of loss. On July 9, 2010, the lives of these teenage Houstonians were violently cut short when Sajan Timalshina, allegedly driving while intoxicated, ran a red light and slammed his vehicle into their SUV. Compounding this nightmare, a fourth teenager Bennisha Davis survived the crash but tragically died of suicide a month later.
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While four young lives were effectively erased from this world, the man responsible has been living freely abroad.
Within hours of the crash, while police were awaiting the results of his toxicology tests, Timalshina was inexplicably allowed to leave the scene. A few hours later, he boarded a flight to his native Nepal.
For over 15 years, this case has essentially been dormant. The Harris County District Attorney’s office made several attempts to convince the Nepalese government to return Timalshina to stand trial for intoxicated manslaughter. All failed.
This case was brought to my attention by the surviving families and their advocates. We recently briefed Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, who, coincidentally, was the investigator on the scene back in July 2010. Teare remembered this case vividly and told us he had kept this file on his desk all these years. He told the families they have his full support to do whatever it takes to bring Timalshina back to face justice.
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Unfortunately, diplomatic obstacles remain. Because the U.S. does not share an active extradition treaty with Nepal, Timalshina has been shielded from international law enforcement.
This case is a stark reminder that sovereignty should never be an excuse to provide sanctuary for killers. We are imploring the U.S. government to reach a diplomatic agreement with Nepal and return Timalshina to stand trial. Allowing a fugitive to simply wait out the clock until the statute of limitations expires sets a dangerous precedent, signaling that geography can erase accountability.
Too many innocent people die on our roads. Too many dangerous and deadly drivers are never held accountable. That needs to change — and it can start with this tragic case.
That’s why Crime Stoppers of Houston and Legends and Legacies Houston are hosting an event commemorating the lives of Avianca, Rashaunda, Detrihanna and Bennisha — Houston’s Hope For 4. The public is invited to join us from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 9 at the Crime Stoppers of Houston headquarters to show their support for the families.
Andy Kahan, Crime Stoppers of Houston director of victim services
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Money troubles
Regarding “Harris County constables reach for power, citing laws written for them,” (July 6): I read the Houston Chronicle’s article on how Harris County constables are making several demands for more revenues, and openly threatening the Commissioners’ Court that they will lobby the Texas Legislature to obtain more revenue.
These constables seem to think they are entitled to added taxpayer revenues, above Houston’s other existing needs. With our city budget under constant shortages, these greedy constables and their allies should be ashamed of their disregard for the public’s needs. These same constables troll my phone with solicitations for my hard-earned money. Disgusting!
Several years ago, I complained to my homeowner’s association that sheriff deputies who were paid to patrol our subdivision wanted to charge our HOA to provide additional protection even though they were already paid to protect the neighborhood. I called this extortion, and our HOA discontinued the service, at least temporarily. If law enforcement needs extra resources, it should go to its employer — the county — and request them.
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Now, constables threaten to go behind their bosses’ backs and use political influence to circumvent the usual process of getting the county to increase their funding. In our politically charged environment, this sets a dangerous precedent for determining the use of taxpayer dollars. Should every government employee or agency simply appeal to a higher authority and force their boss to spend more money on them? If the Legislature demands extra resources for constables, will the legislature pay for them? To what law enforcement agency can citizens appeal to investigate this?
Michael Douglas Gilbert, Houston