A private donor has offered a $4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the suspects wanted for the homicide of two Indian doctorate students, according to a statement released by the LSU Task Force. Kiran Kumar Allam and Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma were found dead on Dec. 13 at the on-campus Edward Gay apartments located adjacent to the Tiger Marching Band practice field in the northern area of campus. The suspects were looking for someone to rob, according to a statement issued by the Baton Rouge Police Department in December. The additional funds are “separate and independent” of the $1,000 reward Crime Stoppers is offering. The anonymous donation raises the total reward to $5,000. Detectives are “actively investigating three or four black male suspects, who were believed to have been seen in an older model, light-colored Oldsmobile Alero,” according to the statement. Two LSU Police Department spokesmen did not return phone calls to The Daily Reveille by press time. The statement does not mention any other progress or developments made in the investigation. The statement does not specify if the additional $4,000 reward offered will expire after a predetermined length of time. On Dec. 19, a private donor offered $4,000 to supplement the then-$1,000 reward for information given before midnight Christmas Eve, leading to an arrest and indictment. On Christmas Day, the reward reverted back to $1,000. The most disappointing setback in the investigation was a false information report because it led to wasted time and effort, LSUPD detective David Heroman told The Daily Reveille in an interview this past week. Dallas Joseph Staden, 22, was charged with criminal mischief Jan. 3 for reporting false information concerning the homicides, Heroman said. The task force continues to meet on a daily basis, Heroman told The Daily Reveille this past week. Heroman said multiple local and federal agencies are involved in the investigation. The statement features the original two sketches released of the suspects. Sketches of the third and fourth suspects have not yet been released. Heroman said updated sketches will be released if the task force is able to gather and corroborate information. To be eligible for the reward, information must be reported to Crime Stoppers via (225) 344-STOP or (225) 344-7867.
—-Contact Nicholas Persac at [email protected]