Indian-origin student Varun Tej Pucha’s attacker sentenced to 60 years

PORTER, IND (TIP) : Jordan Andrade, a 25-year-old from Porter Township, Indiana, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison by the Porter Superior Court for the killing of Varun Tej Pucha, a 29-year-old graduate student from Valparaiso University. Varun, originally from Khammam in Telangana, India, was attacked on October 29, 2023, while at a gym near the university.
During the sentencing, Judge Jeffrey Clymer accepted Andrade’s plea of guilty but mentally ill. Andrade had stabbed Pucha in the head with a tactical-style knife while Pucha was seated in a massage chair at Planet Fitness.
Pucha, who was pursuing a master’s degree and was two months away from graduation, died of his injuries nine days later at a hospital in Fort Wayne.
According to court testimony, Andrade had a history of mental health issues, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, for which he had sought treatment prior to the attack. His father testified that Andrade had exhibited violent behavior in the past, including incidents involving his two brothers.
Under Indiana law, murder convictions carry a sentence range of 45 to 65 years. Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Chris Hammer explained that Andrade’s plea agreement reduced the maximum possible sentence by five years. It is yet to be determined whether Andrade will serve his sentence in a traditional prison or in a mental health facility, which will depend on future evaluations by the Indiana Department of Correction.
Varun Pucha’s family, who did not attend the sentencing virtually, remains deeply affected by the loss. The incident has drawn attention both in India and the US, as Pucha was nearing the completion of his studies at the time of his death.