In the early morning hours of Monday, February 23, 2024, a horrific stabbing spree occurred in Mantua, Virginia, leaving 33-year-old Mamta Thapa and her 52-year-old mother, Binda Thapa, dead. The attacker, Mamta’s father, Chhatra Thapa, used a “curved dagger” to carry out the brutal assault on his family. The incident also left Mamta’s husband critically injured, though he survived the attack. Chhatra Thapa was fatally shot by police after he refused to drop the weapon when officers arrived on the scene.
Neighbor Describes Frantic Moments Before Police Arrived
Ariana Eddleman, a neighbor who heard Mamta’s desperate cries for help, spoke out about the frantic moments before she called 911. Eddleman recalled hearing loud banging on her door, followed by Mamta’s screams. Despite her fear, Eddleman decided to call the police, as she wasn’t sure if the person at the door was a victim or the attacker. She described seeing Mamta banging on the door with all her strength before the noise stopped. Investigators later learned that Mamta’s husband, who had been outside clearing snow, discovered the attack upon entering the house and found Chhatra in the act of “butchering” his family.
Community Devastated by Domestic Tragedy
The attack, which occurred in the Thapas’ home, has left the local community in shock. Mamta’s young son, who was in the house at the time of the attack, was miraculously unharmed but caught in the midst of the horrific crime. The police arrived to find a “bloodbath,” and Chhatra Thapa was shot by an officer after failing to comply with commands to drop the weapon. The local Nepali community, to which the Thapas belonged, has come together to support Mamta’s husband and the child, who has since been placed with extended family. The motive behind the killings has not been disclosed, though police have confirmed that it was a “domestic-related” incident.
