DALLAS, Texas — The body of 32-year-old Gopi Krishna Dasari has left the United States and is en route to India, his family told WFAA Wednesday. This a horrible tragedy, per family members, that's now the bookend of an 'American Dream' that turned into a nightmare within a year of Dasari arriving in the United States to provide for his family thousands of miles away around the world.
His body will be received in the Bpatla District in the state of Andhra Pradesh by the end of this week for memorial services.
That region is already mourning the loss of the 32-year-old.
N Chandrababu Naidu, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, wrote on X, " I offer my heartfelt condolences to his family and assure them that the GoAP will extend every possible support to help bring him home."
On Wednesday, Dasari's cousin, who only wanted to go by Praveen for safety reasons, told WFAA that Dasari's parents are farmers and that he leaves behind a wife and 1-year-old son.
"His mother and my mother are sisters--and we grew up together. He's the family's only son, and it's really been a shock to them," Praveen said. "His wife still thinks he's alive and that he's going to come back to her."
Davonta Mathis, 21, from Waco, is facing a capital murder charge in connection to Dasari's death early Saturday morning, June 22nd, and is facing another for killing 60-year-old Mesquite gas station clerk Muhammad Hussain roughly 24 hours beforehand.
According to arrest documents, Mathis first shot and killed Hussain during a robbery at the Jaxx Fuel gas station at 1701 W. Bruton Road in Mesquite around 11:06 p.m. Thursday, the affidavit said. Then, early Saturday morning, Mathis went to the Fox Gas Station at 8620 Lake June Road in Dallas and shot and killed Dasari in a 2nd robbery.
In both instances, investigators say Hussain and Dasari were killed without a chance or ultimatum, making off with measly items like lottery tickets and cigarillos.
In documents obtained by WFAA Wednesday, Mathis revealed to investigators that after being read his Miranda rights, he went to both convenience stores to steal lottery tickets in hopes that the winnings would give him enough money to get an apartment. Mathis also said he didn't regret anything that he did, per the documents, and that he killed Hussain because of the way he looked. Mathis told investigators he wasn't racist but added that a white person would have cooperated with him, the documents read.
Praveen told WFAA that Dasari was a kind and good person and would have cooperated if given the chance.
"If he would have asked for something, he would have given him whatever he wanted," Praveen said. " He would have told him to take whatever--I don't know what that guy was thinking, taking a life without realizing the impact it would have on his whole family."
"To see the footage of him being killed--it gets me very emotional. He was here to lead a good life for his family and kids and didn't want to fail them."
The documents read that Mathis tried taking his own life after killing Dasari while being pursued by Mesquite Police but couldn't find his weapon in the vehicle he was driving.
Praveen told WFAA that Dasari came to the USA about a year ago to provide for his wife and infant son. His father, who has bone marrow cancer, sold off an acre of his farmland to get him here.
"That's the only property they have there. They need financial support now, definitely," Praveen said.
Luckily, many have donated to a fund to pay for Dasari's memorial and medical expenses. He was in the ICU for almost a day before passing away.
Still, the pain is unimaginable. For someone who came to America, worked hard, and hoped for a better life, this is not the ending anyone wanted.
"I'm not doing good with all of this--I'm trying to control my emotions, but we're all distraught," Praveen added.
Hussain's family spoke with WFAA briefly, adding that he was a great man and a wonderful father.
His funeral was earlier this week.