Suburban Chicago boy dies of burns; father to be charged

On November 18, 2007, Om Patel, 4, and his brother Vishv, 7, were doused with gasoline in the Glendale Heights, Illinois home and set on fire. Om died today from his injuries. Now police are indicating that the boys father, Kaushik Patel, will be charged with murder. Patel had not been previously charged, presumably because he has been recovering in the hospital himself with his own serious burns.

Om died early Thursday morning at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, hospital spokesman Perry Drake said.

Vishv, who like his brother was placed in a drug-induced coma, remained in critical but stable condition Thursday at the hospital’s burn unit. The boy has been recovering and was able to walk a few steps last week, said Tammy Basile, a spokeswoman for LifeSource, which organized a blood drive in honor of the boys at their school on Thursday.

Kaushik Patel, 34, also suffered serious burns and is at the same hospital, but an order of protection has barred him from seeing the children.

He is under continuous police watch and will be taken to jail after he is discharged, Darrah said. It was unclear Thursday whether Patel had an attorney.