Fugitive Arrested for 2008 Novi Triple Homicide Case

On Wednesday, the Novi Police Department received notification from the State Department legal attaché in New Delhi, India of the arrest of 46-year-old Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu. Although the specific details of his arrest are unknown at this time, Nerusu was taken into custody by the Andhra Pradesh State Police near Hyderabad, India.

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 Oct. 13, 2008. Following the murders, Nerusu fled to India. Novi Police found the deceased bodies after responding to a welfare check at the Nerusu home on Oct. 27, 2008.

Investigators from the Novi Police Department worked collaboratively with the FBI and U.S. Department of State to apprehend Nerusu on a three count First Degree Murder warrant issued by the Oakland County Prosecutors Office and Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution 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.

“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 Novi Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police David Molloy. “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.

—The above information was provided in a press release from the City of Novi.