Mariam Susan Mathew, 19, was killed in the family’s Montgomery apartment on November 29, 2021, when a stray bullet came down through the ceiling and struck her as she slept. The family had moved from Muscat, Oman, about five months earlier; Mariam was preparing for further studies when the fatal shot occurred. She was discovered the next morning and pronounced dead at 8:30 a.m.

A hole in the bedroom ceiling showed the bullet’s path, and investigators believed the round originated from the apartment directly above. A representative of the Malankara Orthodox Church Diocese of South-West America said the shot was fired by an occupant of the upper floor; that neighbor was treated as a suspect early on while police said they were pursuing all leads. No public announcement of an arrest has been made.

Anyone with information about the shooting or who knew Mariam or her family is asked to come forward.