Suvechha Sarkar
In February 2011, the quiet and close-knit community of Woodbridge, New Jersey, was shocked to its core by the devastating news of a residential fire. Inside the home, the authorities found the deceased Balwinder Kaur, who was a beloved wife and a dutiful mother. What initially seemed like an accident soon turned into a homicide investigation. The shocking crime left her family completely grief-stricken and searching for answers. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Homicide Hunter: American Detective: Valentine’s Day Murder’ focuses on how the investigation revealed an acquaintance responsible for her death. It also features interviews with officials and her loved ones involved with the case.
Balwinder Kaur Was Found Dead in the Living Room of Her Burning Home
Balwinder Kaur was born in 1967 in the heart of Punjab, North India, and arrived as a beacon of joy in her parents’ lives. As she grew up, her life was grounded in simplicity and her traditions. After completing her schooling, she immersed herself in spending some time doing farming. Eventually, Balwinder tied the knot with the love of her life. However, the couple soon began facing financial hardships. Driven by hope and determination to build a better future for themselves and for their future children, they made a life-altering decision. They immigrated to Elmhurst, Queens, in New York in 1990. Shortly after, the couple welcomed their daughter, Gurprit, and their son, Dipi, into this world with immense joy.
Balwinder always harbored a profound dream of owning her own nice home. It eventually got fulfilled when she moved into their brand-new home in New Jersey. However, her happy life turned completely upside down on February 14, 2011. Around 4:49 pm, the fire alarm in Balwinder’s Woodbridge, Middlesex County, residence in New Jersey went off. A 911 call further alerted the authorities about the residential fire. When the firefighters arrived, they found no vehicles in the garage. However, when they entered the living room amid the black smoke, they found 44-year-old Balwinder. After Balwinder was brought outside of the home, paramedics declared her deceased.
Officials found that the fire was mainly confined to the living room. They found that the other part of the house was in perfect order, and there was no evidence of a burglary. Additionally, they discovered no signs of forced entry, such as broken doors or windows. Initially, they found no fire accelerant, pointing towards an accident. However, the autopsy revealed that Balwinder had died before the fire began since there was no soot in her lungs or nose. Additionally, the floor spot where she was found was unharmed, confirming the same. The medical examiner reportedly found deep bruises on her neck, the nature of which determined her cause of death to be from manual strangulation.
Multiple Strong Evidence Revealed Balwinder’s Killer to be an Acquaintance
Investigators first questioned Balwinder’s husband and children. While her husband was in Manhattan, Gurprit was at college during the time of the fire. Her son informed the police that he had left home at 3 pm to meet a friend, and that was when he last saw his mother. Gurprit later revealed before the officials that her mother used to wear a 22-karat gold bangle bracelet and even showed them four other identical ones at their home. However, during the autopsy, there was only one earring found on her remains. Detectives searched over 70 pawn shops in the area for the two missing jewelry pieces, but to no avail. A breakthrough reportedly came on February 24, 2011, when Tommy App, an arson investigator, called the detective.
One of Tommy’s acquaintances had reportedly told him how her husband was friends with Balwinder’s family, and they had a common friend, Harpal Singh. This individual was previously involved in eight fires at properties where he had lived. However, he was never considered a perpetrator. Upon questioning Gurprit and her brother, it is revealed that Harpal is a friend of their uncle’s, who came to their home a few weeks before the fire. Additionally, Dipi informs the police that he had met Harpal in their driveway on February 10, 2011. He added that the latter alleged that he came to get water since his truck’s engine had heated up, although no trucks were in sight. On questioning Harpal, he claimed that he was at work on February 14, 2011, and later went to Keyport, New Jersey, to pay back a dealer from whom he had recently bought a truck.
However, a quick call to Harpal’s workplace disclosed that he was off work that day. Upon checking with the dealer, investigators found that he had fallen short on his payback and was given an ultimatum to pay a substantial amount for the truck by February 14. A CCTV footage near Balwinder’s home captured his van during the fire. When his second questioning turned out unfruitful, officials obtained a warrant for his cell phone records and found his location near her home during the fire. They also discovered that he had gone to an area named Little India, where there were multiple jewelry shops. Detectives found a shop where a worker recognized a bangle bracelet similar to Balwinder’s that they had bought. Since it required the seller to submit their ID proof, they soon discovered Harpal had sold it. He was arrested on March 11, 2011, and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated manslaughter, robbery, aggravated arson, and hindering his apprehension.
Harpal Singh is Incarcerated at a New Jersey Prison Facility Today
The jury trial of Harpal Singh for the murder of Balwinder Kaur commenced in September 2013. The prosecution presented witness testimonies and evidence and argued that he had gotten into her home easily because they were acquainted, but proceeded to threaten her to steal her cash and jewelry. They further stated how he strangled her, leading to her death. Prosecutors reportedly added that he set the fire in an attempt to conceal his crimes. On the other hand, the defense challenged the evidence and even questioned the witnesses’ credibility. Furthermore, they argued based on the “burning bride” defense, which was based on a dowry-related cultural practice related to India, to suggest alternative motives. However, the jury found Harpal guilty on October 7, 2013.
Harpal was convicted on the charges of murder during the crime/flight from crime, aggravated manslaughter, robbery, aggravated arson, and even hindering his apprehension. On December 23, 2013, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a possibility of parole after serving 85% of his time. Hence, he will have to serve at least 64 years in prison. Following that, Harpal had also filed a pro se supplemental brief during his appeal, asserting his innocence and even alleging the ineffective assistance of his counsel. However, the Appellate Court upheld the trial court’s decision and found no merit in his claims. In each of his appeals, the court has affirmed the original conviction. As of writing, Harpal is serving his time at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey.
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