The Murder of Pam Basu: A Case That Changed Carjacking Laws

In 1992, “carjacking” was a new term. Maryland residents learned about it the hard way when a mother and acclaimed scientist was dragged to her death during a carjacking. That this happened in Savage, Maryland, made it seem even more alien.

At that time, this was an area known more for its historic district and Savage Mill shopping complex, a shopping center created in a historic cotton mill complex. Now, Savage is also known for the murder of Dr. Pamela (Pam) Basu.

A Photograph of Historic Savage Mill Taken in 1970, Showing the Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge with the Mill in the Background. Photo by William E. Barrett; United States Library of Congress. (Source: Savage Mill “About Us” Page.)

An Accomplished Chemist

Dr. Pamela (Pam) Basu was born in India and came to the United States when she was just a girl. She lived near Washington, D.C., and earned degrees from the University of Maryland in College Park, Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Virginia, and the University of Pittsburgh. She and her husband, Biswanath “Steve” Basu, a contractor, lived in Savage, Maryland, part of Howard County, Maryland. (The area is between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore City.)

Pamela (Pam) Basu and Biswanath “Steve” Basu on Their Wedding Day. (Source: Baltimore Sun; submitted photo.)

At the time of her murder, Pam worked as a Senior Research Chemist for W. R. Grace, a major chemical company headquartered in nearby Columbia, Maryland…