On November 18, 2007 Kaushik Patel, 34 of Glendale Heights in Chicago decided to kill himself. He also wanted to kill his 2 sons Vishv, 7 and Om, 4.
He dragged his sons into the shower, doused all three with gasoline and set them alight. On Jan 17, 2008 Om Patel died in the burn unit of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.Vishv remains hospitalized with severe burns.
In the days since the fire, (mother) Nisha Patel has whispered prayers in a waiting room of the burn unit at Loyola as friends try to comfort her and urge her to eat. She had become overwhelmed with worry about what to tell her sons.”She said to me, ‘How will I ever be able to explain to the children what has happened to them?’ ” Bingham said.
Yesterday, a judge extended to 2 years, an order of protection ordering Kaushik Patel to stay away from his son. Authorities have yet to charge Patel formally in the crime. Patel also remains hospitalized with serious burns.(link) ( tip: Krupali)
Kaushik Patel moved to the USA from Gujarat in 1992. His wife Nisha , joined him two years after they married.Neighbors and relatives reported that there was discontent in the marriage.(link)
“When she came here, they were so nice to each other,” said Kamini Patel( sister-in-law). But, she added, “They’ve had problems in the last two years. They’re always creating problems and getting back together.”
Kaushik Patel worked in a printed circuit board manufacturing unit. Nisha Patel held down two jobs. The boys attended the nearby Pheasant Ridge Primary School.
The younger of the sons, Om, seemed shy, not talking much to neighbors. Vishv spoke English well enough to translate for his elderly grandmother, whom neighbors said lived with the family. The boys often were together, tossing a ball against a garage door, playing on a scooter, pushing each other in the driveway in a baby stroller
Police had responded to a minor domestic violence complaint the Friday before the Sunday incident.
I get so mad when I hear of suicidal parents who want to take their kids with them. You have no right over either your own life or your childrens.If you are contemplating suicide, for Heavens’ sake – get help! If you are a parent, think of what your children will endure without a mother or a father to guide them along. If you are not a parent, you have parents, friends, siblings ,cousins , partners who care about you. Think of their reactions when they get the news. Your act is going to take away your own life and ruin many others. Don’t do it!
My heart goes out to the innocent Patel boys. Om has paid the ultimate price.Vishv is going to grow up with scars– those on his body and deeper in his mind. He will always wonder how the one person who was supposed to protect him from the world ended up trying to kill him. Our condolences to Nisha Patel and best wishes to Vishv for recovery.
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