Umar Dutt sentenced to life for psychiatrist’s murder

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Four years after stabbing Wichita psychiatrist Dr. Achutha Reddy to death at his business, Umar Dutt was sentenced to life in prison on Tuesday.

Dutt will be eligible for parole in 25 years, with credit for time served of four years. Attorneys for both sides and the judge recommended that he serve his sentence at Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility because of a history of mental illness, but that determination will be made by the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Dutt pleaded guilty to the crime in September. The Sedgwick County District Attorney said Dutt went to Dr. Reddy’s office in Wichita’s Carriage Parkway, near Central and Edgemoor, in 2017 to confine Dr. Reddy and hurt him. Dr. Reddy tried to escape but Dutt pursued him even further.

In the alley behind the business, Dutt stabbed Dr. Reddy repeatedly more than 160 times, which led to his death. He then ran over the doctor’s body.

“I have not been able to sleep for four years due to nightmares when I think of the last moments of my husband’s life, I shake with fear,” said Dr. Beena Reddy, wife of Dr. Achutha Reddy.

The wife of Doctor Reddy spoke about the impact of the murder during the hearing.

“Umar Dutt gave me a life sentence of grief and fear and misery. This is my daily reality and it will never, ever change. I will never forgive him and I will never forget,” said Dr. Beena Reddy. “Umar Dutt deserves to go to the state penitentiary for the rest of his life.”

Dr. Beena Reddy said the death of her husband left their three kids without a father to be there for all their achievements.

She said, “My children and I have been devastated by Achutha’s death. Our stability, our security, our peace of mind, has been destroyed by the premeditated, evil actions of Umar Dutt.”

She said Dr. Reddy is being remembered for his love and being a kind and gentle man who cared about helping people. That’s what he was trying to for Dutt.

Dr. Beena Reddy said, “My husband always believed the best of people, including Umar Dutt.”

Dr. Beena Reddy said that mental illness isn’t an excuse to kill someone and that Dutt knew what he was doing.

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