American Teacher Hammered to Death on Humantarian Mission to Nepal

A teacher in Nepal—an American woman who arrived in the country to help aid efforts after a devastating earthquake in April—was beat to death

Dahlia Yehia traveled to Nepal on July 20, reportedly to participate in humanitarian relief efforts following a devastating earthquake in April. However, she was reported missing on August 7, only days after she arrived in Pokhara, a popular tourist destination. She last communicated with her family on WhatsApp on August 6.

Police arrested 30-year-old Narayan Paudel, who confessed to the crime.

“He confessed that he killed her and then threw her body into a river,” stated Govinda Adhikari, a senior official. “We have not found the body of the woman yet.”

However, Business Standard reported authorities discovered her body “dumped in a sack near a river.”

Adhikari said the police are still investigating, including for a motive. Police determined he killed her “with a hammer and a ‘lathi’ [a baton] while she was asleep.” The two met “through a Couchsurfing website” that “connects travelers with local hosts for accommodations.”

Yehia taught art at Sci-Tech Preparatory in Austin, Texas, which is planning a memorial for her.

“The kids loved having her for their art teacher last year, especially the high school kids who went to the graffiti park downtown on city buses with their backpacks loaded with cans of spray paint!! We are all saddened by the loss of such a special spirit!” school officials wrote on the school’s Facebook page.

Her relatives formed the “Find Dahlia” Facebook page after she went missing. They confirmed to the followers the U.S. Embassy confirmed her death in Nepal:

“We are devastated by this senseless loss of a beautiful life,” the page reads. “For those who haven’t had the joy of spending time with Dahlia, know that she is a giver, lover, and humanitarian, who devoted her life to others less fortunate both domestic and abroad.

“Even though Dahlia was taken from us much too soon, she surely made her mark on the world, and will be remembered lovingly by all of us.”