Jordan Andrade, a 25-year-old from Porter Township, Indiana, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of Varun Tej Pucha, a 29-year-old graduate student at Valparaiso University.
Varun, originally from Khammam, Telangana, India, was attacked at a gym on October 29, 2023.
During the court proceedings, Judge Jeffrey Clymer accepted Jordan Andrade’s plea of guilty but mentally ill.
Jordan Andrade stabbed Varun in the head with a tactical knife while Varun was sitting in a massage chair at Planet Fitness.
Varun, who was two months away from graduating with a master’s degree, succumbed to his injuries nine days later in a Fort Wayne hospital.
Testimony revealed that Jordan Andrade had a history of mental health issues, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for which he had previously sought help.
His father shared that Jordan had shown violent tendencies in the past, including concerning behavior towards his brothers.
In Indiana, murder convictions typically carry a sentence of 45 to 65 years. Jordan’s plea deal allowed him a reduced maximum sentence of 60 years.
It remains uncertain whether he will be placed in a traditional prison or a mental health facility, depending on future assessments by the Indiana Department of Correction.
Varun’s family, who did not attend the sentencing, is still grieving his tragic loss, which has resonated in both India and the US.
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