Nupur Srivastava

Nupur Srivastava

Man accused of setting girlfriend on fire now charged with murder

Jeremy Brilliant

Eyewitness News, May 2007

Indianapolis - On the day of Nupur Srivastava's funeral, the man accused of pouring gasoline on her and then setting her on fire was charged with murder.

Michael Wilson has been in jail since the incident last month. He initially told police he was using gasoline in an attempt to light a grill. But his girlfriend told medics a different story.

"May God bless her soul wherever she is, she should be happy," Veena Srivastava said about her daughter, 33-year-old Nupur. She died Sunday after sustaining third degree burns more than a month ago.

"I can't even imagine, I don't even try to think about it. I can't even imagine what was going through her mind when this happened," said Ritu Adams, Nupur's sister.

On April 3rd, at their south side home, police say Nupur's boyfriend, 33-year-old Michael Wilson allegedly doused her with gasoline then lit her on fire.

During a 911 call made from the home, a woman can be heard in the background asking, "Why did you do that?" A male responds, "I didn't know it was going to be like that."

For the past six weeks Nupur was hospitalized in a medically-induced coma. She died on Mother's Day.

"I just think that maybe being a mother is the worst thing in the world. It's unbearable " Nupur's mother said.

Her parents met Michael Wilson in February and initially approved. But just a month later, they say, the relationship soured.

Sadanand Srivastava, Nupur's Father said, "She started telling her that mom, 'I don't think he's the right person for me.'"

So Nupur packed her bags and was preparing to move out. The day she was supposed to leave was the same day she was burned.

"I pray to God each and every moment that please, please don't do this to anybody, anybody because the pain and suffering I'm going through my family is going through, I don't think anybody can imagine. Nobody can imagine," Nupur's mother said.

Nuper's family lives in Maryland. They came to Indianapolis during her hospital stay, for her funeral Tuesday and they vow to come back when Michael Wilson goes on trial for murder. He faces up to 65 years if he's convicted.

Michael Wilson