Purdue student accused of killing roommate

Lafayette, Indiana – A judge determined on Thursday that a Purdue University student accused of murder in the stabbing death of his dorm roommate is ineligible to stand trial.

Ji Min Sha will be treated by two doctors until he is determined to be competent to understand the allegations against him and participate in his defense, according to Tippecanoe Circuit Judge Sean Persin.

Varun Manish Chhedad, 20, of Indianapolis, was killed in October, and Sha, a 22-year-old cybersecurity major from Seoul, South Korea, is accused with his murder on one count. The two resided in McCutcheon Hall on the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette, which is located roughly 65 miles (104 kilometers) outside of Indianapolis.

Authorities claim that Sha used a folding knife that was located by officers on the floor close to the chair where Chheda’s body was found to stab the data science major multiple times in the head and neck.

Persin made her decision after reviewing a report written by Dr. Sean Samuels, a psychologist hired by the defense who spoke with Sha for five hours soon after the murder.

Court records indicate Sha told police he believes “he is extensively involved in international espionage and is a former CIA operative.”

According to Purdue Police Chief Lesley Wiete, Sha called the police early on October 5 to report that his roommate had passed away in their dormitory room. Police who detained Sha allegedly discovered him wearing garments with blood on them. An autopsy found that Chheda had died of “multiple sharp-force traumatic injuries.”