Attorney for Dead Frisco Couple Speaks Out

The attorney for the Frisco couple found dead in their home last Wednesday accused Frisco police of mishandling the investigation of the January death of the couple's 10 year old son, Arnav Dhawan.

David Finn said Monday he has no idea precisely what lead to the death of Pallavi and Sumeet Dhawan last week but he knew they'd been under tremendous stress over accusations that the mother killed the boy.

"They were very kind and gentle souls," Finn said. "They can finally rest in peace, the peace they were denied the last seven months."

The attorney said Pallavi Dhawan was suspected from the beginning because police said she nodded 'yes' when asked if she had killed Arnav, but police have no audio or video recording to support their claim.

Finn insisted from the beginning that the boy died of natural causes and he said the autopsy supports his claim.

"I still smell a rat, and I hope the Texas Rangers look into that. I’ve been practicing defense for over 12 years, everything from speeding tickets to assaults to DWIs. I have never encountered a Frisco case where there was not audio and video recording. Not once, ever," Finn said.

At a press conference last Friday, Frisco police said they have asked the Texas Rangers to assist with the new investigation of the parents deaths, partly because of past criticism from Finn.

But Frisco Deputy Police Chief David Shilson said Friday the investigation of the boy’s death would end with the parents’ death.

"The investigators wanted to be able to present that case with all the facts," Shilson said. “They were very close to doing that and certainly we did not want this to be the outcome.”

On Monday, Frisco Police Sgt. Brad Merritt said the department in January had no body cam recorders to capture such a moment as Pallavi Dhawan's alleged nod, and officers do not all have the equipment now.

Finn claimed police withheld records, which Merritt denied.

Police said on Friday that Finn restricted access to the parents, partly explaining the length of the boy’s death investigation.

“For Frisco police to somehow suggest in their press conference that I somehow impeded their investigation is ludicrous at best,” Finn said.

Now, Finn wants police to release a note they say was found in the Dhawan home on the day of their deaths.

“We’re not afraid of the truth. Let’s find out what’s in the note,” Finn said. “And I think the public deserves to know what’s in the note, even if some members of the family want it to be kept private.”

Merritt said the note is still being analyzed and cannot be released yet.

Contact Us