On October 25, 1983, in Gilmer, Texas, the bodies of 35-year-old Bhikhibev Patel, her three children—Jayaben Patel, age 9; Shila Patel, age 6; and Jayesh Patel, age 2—were discovered in their apartment at the Upshur House Motel. Each had died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The Upshur House Motel was owned and operated by the Patel family, who resided on the premises. Bhikhibev Patel, a 35-year-old woman of Indian descent, managed the motel alongside her husband, Gandabhai Motibhai Patel. The tragic discovery was made by Gilmer police and motel employees after concerns arose from other residents.
Following the incident, authorities apprehended Gandabhai Motibhai Patel, a native of India and the husband of the deceased, at a roadside park near Marshall, Texas, approximately five hours after the bodies were found. He was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the abdomen. After receiving medical treatment, he was charged with the murders of his wife and children.
During the legal proceedings, Gandabhai Patel was tried for the shooting death of his 6-year-old daughter, Shila Patel. He was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years in the Texas Department of Corrections. Throughout the trial, issues regarding his mental competency were raised, leading to evaluations and temporary commitments to mental health facilities before he was deemed fit to stand trial.
The case garnered significant attention due to the nature of the crime and the subsequent legal battles concerning mental health defenses. The tragic loss of 35-year-old Bhikhibev Patel and her young children remains a somber chapter in Gilmer's history.
