Who was Nityadevi Ramroop? Texas woman shot dead by estranged husband days before divorce had repeatedly asked cops for help
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Nityadevi Ramroop, a 35-year-old mother-of-three from Texas, was shot dead by her estranged husband in a murder-suicide incident on Tuesday night, October 31, just days before their divorce was finalized.
Her sister, 25, was also stabbed by the gunman but survived the attack after he tried to break into the house at 11 pm shortly after confronting his estranged wife who was arriving home from work.
Ramroop had repeatedly asked the police for protection, fearing for her life, but nothing was done to help her, according to her divorce lawyer, ABC 13 reports.
How was Nityadevi Ramroop killed?
Ramroop had just returned home from work at around 11 pm when she was ambushed by her husband and gunned down in her own driveway on Upland Springs Trace in Katy, authorities said.
The couple’s children aged seven, 13 and 16, were all home at the time of the murder, according to Fox 26.
The gunman then tried to force his way into the house and stabbed Ramroop’s 25-year-old sister who survived the attack.
The estranged husband was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound more than a mile from the crime scene.
Why did Nityadevi Ramroop fear for her life?
Uchi Ohia, Ramroop’s attorney, told the station that she and her husband were just days away from finalizing their divorce and that she worried about her safety as the court date drew near.
“Her increasing fear was the trial coming up that he would do something to harm her,” Ohia said.
"She was being told by his friends that he was saying some very alarming things," said Ohia.
Ramroop had filed a protective order against her husband a few weeks earlier, but she was concerned that the legal measure may not be enough, according to the lawyer.
In June, she reported to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that her jilted husband had been following her, but he was not charged.
Nityadevi Ramroop was told to contact her attorney
Ramroop was instead advised to contact her attorney, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office confirmed.
"The wife called the police three or four times, but she was told there was nothing they could do to protect him," Ohia said.
“I had advised her to inform the police that she believed he was following her,” Ohia added.
“There were multiple incidents where she was fearful this man was stalking her," he further said.
"They told her on a couple of occasions, and myself, since he did not commit a crime, that there was nothing they can actually do to prosecute him and if he did do anything that would constitute a crime in their eyes," Ohia continued.
Ohia further shared that he believes his client, despite showing strength and doing all she could to protect herself, was failed by the system.