Mahadevi Yavad

Murderer

1known / alleged victims

Similar offenders

Miranda Barbour Murderer · USA · 2013 Miranda Barbour, 19, defendant. · Elytte Barbour, 22, defendant and husband of… 100 victims

Tiffany Hall Murderer · USA · 2006 Tiffany Hall was 24 when she was charged in September 2006. She later entered a… 5 victims

Banita Jacks Murderer · USA · 2007 Banita Jacks was a Washington, DC resident convicted of murdering her four daug… 4 victims

Holly Grigsby Murderer · USA · 2011 Holly Grigsby was sentenced to life in prison without parole on July 15, 2014.… 4 victims

Jessica Tata Murderer · USA · 2011 Jessica Tata was a Houston home day care owner who fled to Nigeria after a fire… 4 victims

Tooba Yahya Murderer · Canada · 2009 Tooba Yahya was a 41-year-old second wife in the polygamous Shafia household. H… 4 victims

Random profiles

JA James B. Watson Serial killer · USA · 1918 James B. Watson was an American “bluebeard” who led a life of subterfuge and my… 7 victims

Luis Alfredo Garavito Serial killer · Colombia/Ecuador · 1992 Luis Alfredo Garavito Cubillos, also known as "La Bestia" ("The Beast") or "Tri… 192 victims

Kristi Koslow Homicide · USA · 1992 Kristi Koslow was the 17-year-old daughter of Jack Koslow and stepdaughter of C… 1 victim

Jesse Wise Mass murderer · USA · 2006 Jesse Dee Wise, also known as “Jay,” lived with his grandparents at the home wh… 6 victims

Mark Twitchell Murderer · Canada · 2008 April 12, 2011 — Mark Twitchell was sentenced to life in prison with no chance… 1 victim

Travis Clinton Hittson Murderer · USA · 1993 Travis Clinton Hittson was convicted of the malice murder of Conway Utterbeck,… 1 victim

Case Facts

Gender: female
Country: Nepal
Location: Samanpur, Rautahat District, Narayani Zone, Nepal
Date of birth: 1986
Age at first offence: 26
Characteristics: beheading, abuse
Victim profile: Nitesh Kumar Yadav, 3 (her nephew)
Method of murder: Beheading
Date(s) of murder: May 19, 2012
Years active: 2012
Date of arrest: 3 days later
Status: Imprisoned
In prison awaiting trial; woman arrested for beheading three-year-old nephew (Katmandu Post May 24, 2012)

Case Summary

Background

Mahadevi Yavad was a 25-year-old woman from Samanpur VDC-8, Rautahat.

Local villagers said Mahadevi was a normal woman and did not show signs of mental illness or odd behavior.

Women rights activists and local residents were shocked by the news, and many women in the region had been tortured and killed for allegedly practicing witchcraft.

The offence

Mahadevi Yavad allegedly beheaded her three-year-old nephew, Nitesh Kumar Yadav.

Police said Mahadevi beheaded the boy after performing a puja and later disposed of the remains by throwing the boy’s head into the Bagmati river and burying the torso in her room.

According to police officials and her statements, her guru, Chhabilal Yadav, told her that her witchcraft skills would be complete only after the sacrifice of her nephew, and Chhabilal also demanded that Mahadevi sacrifice her eldest son as well.

Verbatim statements

Mahadevi Yadav told the media:

'I had been learning witchcraft from Chhabilal Yadav of Haraiya for the past month. He told me that my witchcraft skills would be complete only after the sacrifice of the nephew. 'Accordingly I took him at Bramhsthan and beheaded him on Saturday after a pooja.'

Rights activists Bipin Gautam said:

'We are shocked to hear the news at a time when incidents of torture against women for allegedly practicing witchcraft are on the rise in the region,'

Investigation

Rautahat Police arrested Mahadevi Yavad in Samanpur VDC-8 for beheading her three-year-old nephew.

Police officials said Mahadevi confessed to the crime after being interrogated over suspicious information connected to the case.

Police exhumed the body and sent it to Gaur for a postmortem.

Police conducted a manhunt for Chhabilal and Yadav’s family members.

Arrest

District Police, Rautahat said Mahadevi was arrested.

Police said Mahadevi was in police custody.

Trial

Mahadevi Yavad was in prison awaiting trial.

Outcome

Chhabilal Yadav and Yadav’s family members were at large.

Other details

The victim Nitesh Kumar Yadav had been staying at his maternal uncle’s house for the past one month.

Police became suspicious after Mahadevi lodged a complaint and later informed them that she found the boy’s body after he had gone missing.

SP Thule Rai said Mahadevi lodged a complaint that the boy had gone missing, and after a few days she informed the police that she found the boy’s body.

Spotted an error, or have more information about this case?