Who is Dr Katherine Dodson's husband Drew? Why she was killed by Dr Bharat Narumanchi who then shot himself
AUSTIN, TEXAS: The horrific murder-suicide of 43-year-old pediatrician Dr Katherine Lindley Dodson by Dr Bharat Narumanchi has left the entire country in shock. On January 26, Dr Dodson was held hostage for hours inside her office at a Texas children's hospital by Dr Narumanchi, who, however, did not work in that office. After shooting Dodson, Narumanchi, a terminal cancer patient, shot himself fatally.
The startling incident has been reported across the globe and if reports are to be believed, Narumanchi entered the building armed with "numerous guns" and initially took several people hostage. According to a news conference held by Austin police, four others escaped unharmed and some of the hostages evaded their attacker. Dodson, however, was trapped there. Police declined to provide additional details about the circumstances.
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Who was Dr Katherine Dodson?
Katherine Dodson was the daughter of Katherine Spaht, a former Law professor at Louisiana State University and attorney Paul Spaht. She grew up in Baton Rouge with her family where she was a student of Episcopal High School. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Virginia’s Washington and Lee University.
Later, Katherine attended medical school at LSU in New Orleans. Her pediatric residency training was completed at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville. Afterward, she worked as an urgent care physician at Children's Hospital Boston and also worked as a Harvard Medical School Instructor. In Austin, Katherine worked for ten years at Dell Children’s Hospital. Both in 2012 and 2017, she was honored with DCMC’s Pediatric Faculty Member of the year award. For three years back to back, she was recognized as one of the Superdoctors Rising Stars.
On the fateful night of January 26, she was stationed at her most recent workplace - Children’s Medical Group in Austin.
Who is Drew Dodson?
Dr Dodson is survived by her three children and her husband. "(They) are beyond devastated at the tragic, sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Lindley," her family said in a statement released on Wednesday. In 2006, Katherine married Frederick Drew Dodson in Baton Rouge, according to The Advocate. If a LinkedIn profile is to be believed, he is a product management and analytics leader working at a digital fitness firm - Your Trainer. He holds an MBA degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Sloan School of Management. He attended Washington and Lee University for a degree in Business and Accounting - the same university where Katherine pursued her undergraduate degree.
In a brief conversation with Austin American - Statesman, Drew said that his family had gotten a lot of outreach and support at these times. A statement released by her family says, “(She had) the unique ability to make you feel like the only person in the room. She brightened our lives and lifted us up with her laughter, which was like magic. We are all better because of her. We are beyond devastated at the tragic, sudden and senseless loss of our beloved Lindley. As a dedicated mom, wife, daughter, friend and pediatrician, she radiated light, love and joy in everything she did and with everyone she touched.”
Our entire community is beyond words gutted by the senseless loss of our wonderful pediatrician and friend, Dr. Lindley Dodson. This thread is dedicated to her life and love of children and I invite anyone who knew her to share a memory here, if that helps you process your grief. pic.twitter.com/JRU8pSIeHA
— KSV (@KSVesq) January 27, 2021
Why did Dr Narumanchi kill Dodson and himself?
Dr Bharat Narumanchi, the 43-year-old Indian-American pediatrician identified as the murderer, was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given weeks to live. He recently applied for a volunteer position at the Children’s Medical Group clinical facility in Austin but was turned down. Police are suspecting that the terminal cancer diagnosis had a large role to play in his fatal actions.
No other connection between Dr Dodson and Narumanchi has been found so far apart from the brief interaction when he was at the office to apply for the position.
On January 26, Narumanchi entered the facility armed with a pistol, a shotgun and carrying two duffel bags. He held several people hostage at the facility initially, but some escaped, and others were allowed to leave. However, Dr Katherine Dodson could not escape before the SWAT team arrived. Initially, the police also brought hostage negotiators to try and establish contact with Narumanchi but the attempt was unsuccessful. When the police finally entered the building, they discovered the bodies of Dodson and Narumanchi.
A GoFundMe page titled 'Support for The Dodsons & Children's Medical Group' has raised over $116,000 of $200,000 goal.