Man Wanted for 2008 Murders Arraigned After Returning to Michigan

Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu, the 46-year-old 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, was arraigned Sunday on three counts of first-degree murder.

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

The Detroit Free Press reports that Nerusu was arrested in February in Andhra Pradesh, near Hyderabad, India after fleeing the state. According to the report, A Novi police investigator and an FBI agent flew to India and returned Nerusu to Michigan last week.

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 in an interview with Patch earlier this year. “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.