Jordan Andrade Sentenced to 60 Years for Murder

Jordan Andrade, a 25-year-old from Porter Township, has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder of Varun Raj Pucha, a 29-year-old graduate student from Telangana, killed on October 29, 2023, at a fitness center in Valparaiso, Indiana. Andrade fatally stabbed Pucha while he was sitting in a massage chair, leading to Pucha's death nine days later. Although Andrade pleaded guilty, he claimed mental illness, suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which the court acknowledged but deemed insufficient to lessen the severity of the crime. The Indiana law mandates a sentence of 45 to 65 years for murder, with Andrade receiving a 60-year sentence as part of a plea deal. Varun's family expressed grief over the loss of their son, who was just two months away from graduation, highlighting the tragedy of the situation. The Indiana Department of Correction will later determine whether Andrade will serve his sentence in prison or a mental health facility.