MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. — On Thursday afternoon, a longtime western Washington pediatrician was laid to rest.
Services were held for Dr. Talat Jehan Khan at Masjid Umar Al-Farooq Mosque in Mountlake Terrace before her burial.
“She was a very humble person, her life revolved around her kids, her own kids, her son and a daughter,” said Wajahat Nyaz, Dr. Khan’s oldest brother. “But also, the greater community of the children that she looked after for her work.”
The 52-year-old mother of two was killed Oct. 28 in the Houston, Texas suburb of Conroe. Witnesses said she was sitting at a picnic table at her apartment complex when a man came out of nowhere and stabbed her to death. Her body was brought back to Washington on Tuesday.
"Since Saturday, it has definitely been the hardest time of my life, and it’s been even harder for the kids,” said Nyaz.
Khan moved to Texas from western Washington three months ago. She got a job with Texas Children’s Hospital because she wanted to live somewhere with more sunshine. She worked as a pediatrician at several community medical clinics in western Washington before she moved, including in places like Marysville and Monroe. Her coworkers told KING 5 they are heartbroken and said she was a mentor in her field and a caring friend.
Multiple groups in Texas, and local Muslim leaders at the prayer service in Mountlake Terrace, are calling on law enforcement to thoroughly investigate and determine if Dr. Khan’s murder was a hate crime.
Her family is also asking for a transparent investigation. They said this is important for the safety of others and important to get justice for Dr. Khan.
“We should all insist, collectively insist, on an open, transparent, thorough investigation so that everything about this heinous murder comes to the surface and the perpetrators get the just punishment,” said Nyaz.
Her brothers said there is now a void in their family that can never be filled, but they will remember Dr. Khan for her kindness and pure heart.
“She was the most humble person, down to earth, loving, and open to everybody,” said Saqid Khan. Dr. Khan's younger brother. “Everybody could just come up to her and ask questions or ask for guidance and she would be willing to help them out”
Dr. Khan leaves behind a 14-year-old daughter and a 24-year-old son. The son asked his uncle to share this message:
“Hold on to your mother, you never know when you’ll lose her."
As Dr. Khan's family mourns and pushes for justice., they said they will support her children and get through this together.
“It’s going to be a tough ride. But like I said, we are a strong, united family. We will hold them and will help them get through it,” said Nyaz.
The 24-year-old man police believe killed Dr. Khan is being held on a $500,000 bond for first-degree murder.