Novi Triple Murder Suspect Arrested In India
NOVI (WWJ) - A 46-year-old man has been arrested in India in connection with the murder of his wife, 14-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son in Novi back in October 2008.
Investigators from the Novi Police Department have been working with the FBI and State Department to apprehend the suspect, Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu, who fled to India following the murders.
On Wednesday, police say they received notification that Nerusu was taken into custody by the Andhra Pradesh State Police near Hyderabad, India on a three count first degree murder warrant, issued by the Oakland County Prosecutors Office, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of State are handling the extradition process which may take several years if contested by Nerusu.
Nerusu is accused of killing his then 37-year-old wife, Jayalakshmi Nerusu, and their two children, 14-year old daughter Tejasvi Nerusu and 12-year old son Siva Kumar Nerusu, on October 13, 2008. Novi Police found the deceased bodies after responding to a welfare check at the Nerusu home on October 27, 2008.
"I am very pleased with the collaborative effort between the Novi Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of State and local officials in India to apprehend Mr. Nerusu," said David E. Molloy, Novi Chief of Police said in a statement. "We look forward to Mr. Nerusu returning to Michigan to face the consequences of these horrific crimes."
A charge of murder in the first degree includes premeditation and deliberation. If convicted, Nerusu faces the penalty of life in prison with no possibility of parole.
