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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 \u201cMost Wanted List\u201d at the FBI Houston Field Office in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025.<\/p>\n
Kirk Sides\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Justice\u00a0<\/p>\n
Regarding “Families struggle to cope after 3 teens die in wreck<\/a>,” (July 11):\u00a0Justice delayed is justice denied, but when a suspect flees the country entirely, the delay transforms into agonizing, generational torment.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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<\/a>, 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> a month later.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n While four young lives were effectively erased from this world, the man responsible has been living freely abroad.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n For over 15 years, this case has essentially been dormant. The Harris County District Attorney\u2019s office made several attempts to convince the Nepalese government to return Timalshina to stand trial for intoxicated manslaughter. All failed.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Unfortunately, diplomatic obstacles remain. Because the U.S. does not share<\/a> an active extradition treaty with Nepal, Timalshina has been shielded from international law enforcement.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Too many innocent people die on our roads. Too many dangerous and deadly drivers are never held accountable. That needs to change \u2014 and it can start with this tragic case.<\/p>\n