Home News 

Story

Police: Jonesboro Man Killed Daughter Who Wanted Out Of Arranged Marriage

Victim Had No Contact With Husband For 3 Months

Posted: 11:50 am EDT July 6, 2008Updated: 6:47 pm EDT July 7, 2008

A 25-year-old Jonesboro woman is dead after police said she told her father she wanted out of an arranged marriage.

Police said they found Sandela Kanwal’s body inside a home in the 9600 block of Utah Drive in Jonesboro. They said Kanwal had been strangled to death by her father, Chaudhry Rashid, 56.

Chaudhry Rashid

Police said Chaudhry Rashid strangled his 25-year-old daughter to death because she wanted out of an arranged marriage. Full Story ››

“Apparently, she had been married and has had no contact with her husband who lives in Chicago for the last three months,” said Tim Owens of the Clayton County Police Department.

Owens said the victim and her father argued over the marriage and the fact that it had been arranged. “At some point during the altercation, he ended up killing his daughter,” said Owens.

According to a police report obtained by Channel 2, the victim's mother said she heard screams coming from another bedroom.

MANUEL BOJORQUEZ: Father Accused Of Killing Daughter Appears In Court

Police said they have encountered numerous challenges with the case, particularly because of a language barrier.

Authorities are not saying how the victim was killed.

Police said the family is from Pakistan. Neighbors were shocked to hear about the tragedy. “My heart goes out. They seemed to be decent, lovely people,” said neighbor Veronda Luckett.

Rashid appeared in Clayton County Magistrate Court for his first appearance before a judge Monday but it did not go as planned because of a language barrier. The judge rescheduled the hearing for Tuesday when an interpreter could be present.

Rashid remains in jail charged with murder.

More Headlines

2 Investigates

Scientists at the Georgia Aquarium have disturbing new research ... and what they're finding in ocean creatures could have massive implications for Georgians. Channel 2 Action News reporter Linda Stouffer got a close up look. Watch Video ››
Pt. 2 Georgia Aquarium Researchers Conduct Seafood Testing
DOLPHIN RESEARCH WEB EXTRAS: marineland.net | RAW VIDEO: Swimming With Dolphins | Fish Consumption Guidelines | Seafood Advisory Areas


A local police major says he's been removed from hiring and recruitment ... a result of sexual harassment allegations by two women. Channel 2 Action News investigative reporter Mark Winne has the latest. Watch Video ››


Federal law forbids paying welfare benefits to immigrants -- even legal immigrants. But a government investigation found that states all over the country are ignoring an important part of that law. When Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Belcher asked Georgia's Department of Human Services what it was doing, the answer was: We don't know.

A Channel 2 investigation is exposing critical 911 delays. Dozens of Channel 2 viewers called and e-mailed us and said they were put on hold during emergencies. Investigative reporter Jodie Fleischer spent months requesting and digging through records. While the city of Atlanta still hasn't provived all of what we asked for, Fleischer has uncovered what appears to be a 911 emergency.

Channel 2 Investigates uncovers government waste , fraud and abuse. Full Story ››