A 17-year-old Massachusetts teen has been charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of his mother and younger brother. Prosecutors revealed that Arjun Aravind allegedly used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to explore fantasies about killing his family in the period leading up to the homicides.
Aravind was arraigned Thursday in Concord District Court and ordered held without bail. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which also include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. He is being charged as an adult under Massachusetts law.
Investigators found what Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan described as "concerning behavior" by Aravind, including internet activity and the use of ChatGPT to explore theoretical or fictional scenarios involving the killing of his family. The teen is accused of murdering his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind.
Authorities were alerted to the situation Tuesday evening when the father, concerned after a tutor was unable to gain entry to the home and his calls went unanswered, requested a well-being check. Responding officers discovered Siddharth dead on the first floor of the family's Acton home. Venkatesan was found deceased in the basement.
Prosecutors stated that evidence at the scene indicated a violent struggle, and preliminary findings suggest both victims suffered blunt-force trauma. The official causes of death are pending determination by the medical examiner.
Venkatesan was last seen Tuesday morning before her husband left for work. Her younger son, Siddharth, returned home shortly after noon. Authorities noted that Venkatesan's green Honda Accord was missing from the residence.
Aravind was located around 3:40 a.m. Wednesday in his mother's vehicle in a parking lot in nearby Wayland, Massachusetts. He was taken into custody without incident. Investigators recovered items from the car that they believe correspond with evidence found at the crime scene, though these items have not been publicly identified.
Court documents also indicate that Aravind's father had expressed concerns about his son's recent behavior and internet use, reportedly taking measures to hide knives within the home. Aravind received medical treatment for hand injuries before his court appearance and was cleared to attend. His attorney requested a mental health evaluation, the specific purpose of which—competency to stand trial or criminal responsibility—remains undetermined.
Aravind is scheduled to return to court on September 11 for a probable cause hearing. Acton is described as an affluent community approximately 30 miles northwest of Boston, and the family had recently relocated partly for its school system and support networks for the children.
Fox News Digital has reached out to OpenAI for comment.