Authorities said the motive for the killings has not been definitively established. The next step will be to bring Hameed back to the United States to face prosecution

Investigators renew efforts to locate long-missing suspect accused of killing a woman and her young son, urging the public to come forward with information.

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FBI Offers $50,000 Reward for Information About Indian National Who Murdered Woman, Son from India in 2017

The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of an Indian national wanted in connection with the 2017 killings of a 35-year-old woman and her six-year-old son who had recently arrived in the United States from India. Federal investigators announced the renewed appeal this week, saying the suspect fled the country shortly after the murders and may be receiving help to avoid detection.

Authorities say the case has remained open for more than seven years, and despite multiple leads across several states and international jurisdictions, the suspect has not been located. The FBI hopes the increased reward will generate new information from the public, especially among communities familiar with the victim or the accused.

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A Cold Case Gains New Urgency

According to investigators, the victims were found dead in their suburban home in New Jersey in September 2017. The woman, whom authorities have not named publicly at the request of her surviving family, sustained multiple stab wounds. Her son, who had joined her weeks earlier from India, was also stabbed.

Local authorities initially led the investigation, but the severity of the crime and evidence suggesting a quickly executed escape prompted FBI involvement within days. The suspect—identified by officials as 37-year-old Indian national Rakesh “Ricky” Sharma—was last seen near Newark Liberty International Airport less than 48 hours after the killings.

Investigators believe he boarded a flight to India using a fraudulent or borrowed travel document.

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Suspect Fled the U.S. Within Days

The FBI says Sharma had been living intermittently in the United States as a temporary worker. He reportedly knew the woman and her husband from their hometown in India before they emigrated.

Neighbors told law enforcement that Sharma visited the family’s home frequently in the months leading up to the attack. One resident recalled seeing him arrive the evening before the killings and leaving abruptly early the next morning.

Authorities have not disclosed a specific motive but say evidence suggests a personal dispute. “We believe the suspect acted deliberately, and his quick departure from the country indicates premeditation,” said Special Agent Daniel Ruiz of the FBI’s Newark field office.

The agency placed Sharma on its “Most Wanted Murder Suspects” list last year but has struggled to locate him abroad.

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International Coordination Underway

Because Sharma is believed to be in India—or traveling within South Asia—the FBI has coordinated the case with Indian law enforcement agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation. Officials say they have exchanged information on Sharma’s possible whereabouts, bank activity and communication patterns.

However, they note that fugitives often rely on informal support networks to avoid capture. “It only takes a small circle of individuals to help someone maintain anonymity,” Ruiz said. “That is why public assistance is critical.”

The FBI emphasized that international cooperation continues but warned that locating long-term fugitives requires persistent public engagement.

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Community Impact and Ongoing Trauma

The killings stunned the quiet New Jersey neighborhood where the victims lived. Members of the Indian American community held vigils for the woman and her son, describing them as “gentle,” “hard-working” and “newly hopeful about their future in America.”

Friends of the family say the woman had moved to the U.S. to pursue work opportunities and planned to bring her husband and other relatives after settling.

The surviving husband, who returned to India following the tragedy, has continued urging U.S. authorities to pursue the case. In statements shared through family members, he said he hopes the renewed reward will “bring justice and some closure.”

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Why the Case Still Matters

Cold-case specialists note that reopening attention on older cases increases the likelihood of breakthroughs. According to FBI data, public tips account for about 30 percent of fugitive captures.

“This reward is more than a financial incentive; it signals renewed commitment,” says Mary Beth Dalton, a former federal investigator who now researches transnational crime. “People familiar with the suspect may have been reluctant to come forward years ago. Time can shift loyalties.”

Dalton adds that community mobility, changes in family dynamics and increased digital visibility often generate new leads in older cases.

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How the Reward Works

The FBI says the $50,000 reward will be paid to anyone who provides information that directly leads to Sharma’s arrest. Tipsters may remain anonymous, and investigators encourage those with even partial sightings—such as social media accounts, workplace information, or community presence—to contact authorities.

The agency has also circulated updated digital posters across multiple states with large South Asian populations, including New Jersey, New York, California and Texas.

Officials say they have received dozens of tips since the new reward announcement but have not verified any as credible leads so far.

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A Call for Public Assistance

Authorities believe Sharma may be living under an altered identity. They caution that physical appearance, documentation and location may have changed in the seven years since the crime.

Still, investigators hope the public will recognize distinctive details: Sharma is approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs around 160 pounds and speaks English and Hindi.

He may seek work in informal sectors that require minimal background checks.

“We’re urging anyone with information—no matter how small—to come forward,” Ruiz said. “Seven years is a long time, but accountability has no expiration.”

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The Long Road Ahead

Law enforcement experts say solving the case will require persistence. International fugitive investigations often extend over years or decades, but many eventually lead to arrests.

If Sharma is located in India or another country, extradition procedures would then begin. Such processes involve diplomatic coordination and legal review but remain routine in homicide cases involving U.S. victims.

For now, the FBI continues releasing updated details and contacting diaspora communities in hopes that renewed attention will surface new information.

“We are committed to seeing this through,” Ruiz said. “This case matters—not only because two innocent lives were taken but because accountability is essential to justice.”