A 17-year-old Massachusetts teenager has been accused of murdering his mother and younger brother, with prosecutors alleging he used ChatGPT for searches related to killing his family. Arjun Aravind appeared in Concord District Court on Thursday, facing charges of two counts of murder, assault and battery, motor vehicle theft, and using a vehicle without authority.
Prosecutors claim Aravind murdered his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his brother, Siddharth Aravind, 14, inside their Acton home on Tuesday. The father of the household had requested a welfare check after being unable to reach his family. Responding officers discovered the bodies of Venkatesan and Siddharth, who appeared to have suffered blunt force trauma.
According to the police report, Aravind's father told investigators that his son had been exhibiting concerning internet activity, leading the family to hide knives from him. The father also stated that Arjun had been diagnosed with autism and had a history of behavioral issues, which had previously led to him being prohibited from possessing a cellphone. The father reported that Aravind had been making ChatGPT searches about "theoretical ideas and fantasies regarding killing his family."
Investigators allege that Aravind used ChatGPT shortly before 8 a.m. on the day of the killings to create a scenario involving the death of his parents, and later searched "killing mom" at 9:03 a.m. Evidence found in the home included a bloody laptop, described as being "consistent with it being used during the assault."
Following the alleged murders, prosecutors claim Aravind went to his place of employment, a Stop & Shop, and purchased over $2,000 worth of cereal and energy bars using his mother's credit card, with the intention of reselling them. He was later found asleep around 3:40 a.m. Wednesday inside his mother's vehicle, which contained the purchased food items, bedding from the house, a laptop, a cellphone, and his mother's purse.
Aravind's attorney, Debra DeWitt, stated that she had not seen the alleged search data before the arraignment and that her understanding of the cereal bar purchase differed. She suggested that Aravind was unaware his family members were deceased when he left the home and was shocked and traumatized upon learning the news.
A plea of not guilty was entered on Aravind's behalf. He was ordered held without bail and is scheduled for a mental health evaluation. A judge allowed a motion for funds to enable him to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 11.