Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"The thing is that we have adjacent rooms. We had both air conditioners on, which are pretty noisy. We had the fans on. And probably we were fast asleep. We work like crazy people the entire day and there are times when you sleep like a log." — Ashley Flowers (explaining why parents might not have heard the murder)
"Well, and to be honest, I don't know I'd even expect them to hear anything. I mean, I don't know how everything played out, but if a Rushi's throat was slit early on, I mean, she may not have even been able to make any significant noise, you know?" — Britt (speculating on the victim's ability to make noise)
"But regardless, it leaves the case exactly where we started, unsolved, correct?" — Britt (summarizing the unresolved nature of the case)
The episode chronicles the perplexing murder of 13-year-old Arushi Talwar and her family's domestic helper, Hemraj Banjade, in Noida, India, in 2008. The discovery of the brutal crime was marred by immediate procedural errors, including a contaminated crime scene due to the presence of numerous family members and friends before police arrived. Initial suspicion fell on Hemraj, who was missing at the time. His body was later discovered on the terrace, also deceased, with signs of trauma and a slit throat, complicating the narrative and further hindering the investigation.
The investigation faced significant challenges, including a lack of forensic evidence, questionable handling of potential evidence like a whiskey bottle and Arushi's cell phone, and inconsistent testimonies. The police's initial theory of an honor killing involving Rajesh Talwar, Arushi's father, was met with skepticism due to procedural flaws and the mishandling of the case. The subsequent involvement of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also struggled to produce conclusive evidence, leading to the arrest and later release of other potential suspects, including domestic workers.
Ultimately, the case against Arushi's parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, was built on circumstantial evidence, and they were convicted of murder, only to have their convictions overturned on appeal due to insufficient evidence. The episode highlights the critical failures in the investigation, the intense media circus surrounding the case, and the lasting questions that leave the murders of Arushi Talwar and Hemraj Banjade officially unsolved, underscoring the need for meticulous investigative practices and ethical media reporting.