Investigators on Thursday formally named the son of a missing Indiana doctor as a "person of interest" in the case.
Paresh Paul, 38, has been living in Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul's house when she disappeared.
Days later, Paresh Paul turned up in California after having just crossed the Mexican border, officials said. They said he was uncooperative during questioning.
"Parish Paul has been questioned by officers several times and through their interviews he has made several inconsistent statements," said Munster Police Chief Stephen Scheckel.
Police said they believe they found evidence which points to foul play. They also pointed to a police report, which indicates that family members recalled the mother and son arguing back in January 2001 where he "became irate and began choking her."
No charges are imminent, though, as the case is still largely circumstantial, as no body or car has been found.
Dr. Paul was last seen March 21 at her medical office on Kennedy Avenue, in Highland, Ind. A bank's surveillance camera later recorded her driving her missing gold Toyota RAV4. She didn't show up for work the following day, despite having several appointments.
Munster police said in March they talked to the doctor's family locally, in California and in her native India. They said they also followed up on several leads, but none of them have given them any concrete information on where the doctor might be.
Investigators have since cleared both the doctor's husband and two other sons. Police said those three men have been "fully cooperative" in the investigation.
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| Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul |
