Thread: MI Police: FBI arrests two Texas men in relation to Troy cou

Saturday, March 15, 2008
Police: FBI arrests two Texas men in relation to Troy couple's slaying
Mike Martindale / The Detroit News

TROY -- Two more suspects will face charges in the alleged contract killings of a Troy couple, police said Saturday.

Narayan Thadani and Douglas Tabor, both Texas residents, were arrested late Friday night in the Houston area by FBI agents on charges of conspiracy to commit murder in conjunction. They are suspects in the deaths of Birj Mohan Chhabra, 65, and his wife Aasha Chhabra, 56. The couple was killed Tuesday in their home on Delaware Drive.

"These new arrests are important elements in the case against our suspects," said Troy Police Lt. Gerard Scherlinck on Saturday.

Police said Miguel Angel Servando-Ortiz, 40, of Katy, Texas, and Nelson Oswaldo Mendoza, 34, of Houston traveled to Troy to carry out the murder-for-hire. They were arrested Tuesday by Taylor police during a traffic stop in which blood-stained clothing, a semi-automatic handgun and a map to the victims' home were found inside their vehicle.

The pair were arraigned Friday in Troy on first degree premeditated murder and firearm charges. A preliminary exam is scheduled for March 27 in Troy District Court. Both are being held in the Oakland County Jail without bond. Servando-Ortiz is in the United States illegally, according to federal authorities.

Scherlinck said Thadani and Tabor are awaiting an appearance before a federal magistrate in Houston. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit and Detroit FBI Office anticipate their extradition to Detroit to face federal charges in this case Monday, he said.

"This will not impede the prosecution for state offenses, although our suspects may also face federal charges," he said.

Thadani is a longtime family friend of the Chhabra's, against whom they had filed suit over the use of $1.5 million in funds associated with Aasha Chhabra's family estate in India. Tabor is an associate of Thadani's, Scherlinck said.

The News has reported how Servando-Ortiz and Mendoza, both El Salvador nationals, were allegedly promised $100,000 to kill the couple, according to prosecutors.

Both victims were found in the second-floor bedroom of their home. Both were killed by a single contact gunshot wound to the head.

Aasha Chhabra had multiple sclerosis and was largely confined to bed or a wheelchair. Her husband was a computer programming consultant and yoga instructor.

Aasha Chhabra apparently relied on Thadani's help in liquidating assets left to her in India by her parents. Allegations contained within a still pending 2006 lawsuit show Aasha Chhabra alleged Thadani moved her funds to his own account -- without her knowledge or permission -- and refused her demands to return them to her, along with her passport, green card and ID.

You can reach Mike Martindale at (24 647-7226 or mmartindale@detnews.com.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... /803150418

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