The Valparaiso University community is “shocked and saddened” by a life threatening attack on one of its graduate students Sunday at Planet Fitness, and the victim’s academic adviser described him as grateful for the opportunity to study here and focused on achieving his academic and professional goals.
The victim, Varun Raj Pucha, 29, is from the city of Khammam in the state of Telangana in India, according to an online posting from the North America Telugu Society, which also set up a GoFundMe page to assist Pucha’s family with travel and medical expenses.
He is studying computing and information sciences.
“We are shocked and saddened by the attack on Varun Raj Pucha. At Valparaiso University, we consider each other family, and this incident is horrifying for us all. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of his friends and family,” José Padilla, the university’s president, said in a statement provided to the Post-Tribune Wednesday.
According to court documents for Jordan Andrade, 24, of Porter Township, who is charged with attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, a Level 3 felony, Pucha’s chance of survival was estimated at 0-5% by medical staff at Northwest Health-Porter. He was later transferred to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne because of the seriousness of his injuries.
During an initial hearing before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer, Clymer entered initial pleas of not guilty on Andrade’s behalf and went over the sentencing guidelines if Andrade is found guilty, which are 20 to 40 years in prison for the Level 1 felony and 3 to 16 years for the lesser charge.
In addition to a no contact order with Pucha, Clymer set Andrade’s bond at $500,000 cash and $500,000 surety. Mark Chargualaf was assigned as his public defender.
Andrade had an alcohol violation as a minor but no other criminal charges in his background, said Harry Peterson, the deputy prosecutor handling the initial hearing, but given the seriousness of the charges in the case and that Pucha has a limited chance of survival, which would upgrade the charges to murder, Peterson requested bond be set at $250,000.
With the assistance of his father, Andrade said he could afford a $300,000 bond but, after some discussion and clarification that Andrade understood the proceedings despite taking a medication used to treat mental illness, Clymer deemed Andrade a flight risk because of the charges. He set bond at $500,000 cash and $500,000 surety.
The surety bond, Clymer said, was “to ensure a bail bondsman will return Mr. Andrade to the court if he posts bond.” If he is able to post bond, he will be required to undergo 24-hour monitoring, among other conditions.
Pucha’s department head at Valparaiso University, meanwhile, said Pucha believed his university home was welcoming and supportive.
“Varun has always been a very conscious student, grateful for the opportunity to study in the United States, and focused on achieving his academic and professional goals,” said George Pati, Ph.D., Surjit S. Patheja Chair in World Religions and Ethics and professor of South Asian Religions and Cultures, and head of Pucha’s program at Valparaiso University.
“He believed his university home to be welcoming and supportive as he pursued his education at Valparaiso University. Varun is known to be polite and earnest in how he approaches his relationships with fellow students, faculty, and staff within the department of computing and information sciences.”
Sunday’s service at the Chapel of the Resurrection included a moment of silence for Pucha, and both Pucha and his family will continue to be lifted in prayer in future services, according to a university spokesperson.
“In addition to our thoughts and prayers, the University and Valpo Community are offering all assistance and resources available to help Varun’s family get to the United States as quickly as possible,” Michael Fenton said in an email, adding the university also is providing full support to the ongoing investigation by the Valparaiso Police Department.
Valparaiso police were called around 9 a.m. Sunday to Planet Fitness, 1270 Strongbow Centre Drive, after the altercation, in which Andrade used a knife for cutting open boxes to stab Pucha in the head with a wound so deep it reached his brain stem, according to charging documents.
Andrade told police Pucha threatened to assassinate him and the stabbing was how he reacted, court documents state. Andrade told police during an interview that he requested a deep tissue massage when he arrived at the fitness center but “the guy,” referring to Pucha, was just lying there and was being “a little weird.”
He told police he didn’t know the man but described him as having a tan skin tone. Staff at the fitness center said Pucha was a regular gym member and generally kept to himself, was quiet and reserved and did nothing indicating he was “creepy.”
Andrade claimed the two were fighting and Andrade was holding Pucha down because Pucha was pushing him, though Andrade also told police in court documents that Pucha never got out of the massage chair he was in. Under further questioning from police, Andrade agreed that Pucha was “pretty little” compared to Andrade, who said he could bench press 260 pounds and played varsity football for four years in high school.
Valparaiso Police Capt. Joe Hall, the department’s public information officer, did not have any updates on Pucha’s condition Wednesday.
“Currently, he is in critical condition, battling for his life in a coma, and his family is facing a harrowing journey filled with uncertainty and overwhelming medical bills,” according to the GoFundMe post from the North America Telugu Society. “We were contacted by the family with a heavy heart, asking for our support to cover his extensive medical expenses and travel expenses for his parents to the USA.”
The NATS Helpline team has been providing the family with necessary assistance since Sunday, according to the post, and also initiated fundraising for medical and financial support.
“We greatly appreciate your generosity, which will not only ease Varun’s family financial burden but also give them strength and hope during this difficult time,” the post states.
By Wednesday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $32,000 of a $250,000 goal.
Nov 01, 2023 at 3:38 pm