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Indian-origin teen murders mother, brother in US; used ChatGPT to search for ‘family killing’ fantasies
The 17-year-old boy allegedly killed his mother and younger brother at their home in Massachusetts.
An Indian-origin teenager has been held in Massachusetts, US, for allegedly murdering his mother and younger brother inside their home.
The accused has been identified as Arjun Aravind, a resident of Acton, and has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of assault and battery on a household or family member, two counts of assault and battery, use of a vehicle without authority, and theft of a motor vehicle, officials said, news agency PTI reported.
He is accused of killing his brother Siddharth Aravind, 14, and mother Sudha Venkatesan, 45, on Tuesday after which he fled the spot.
Both victims were found with "obvious trauma", but the Chief Medical Examiner is yet to ascertain the exact cause and manner of death. The type of weapon used in the killings is also still under investigation, the report added.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo was quoted as saying that the deaths occurred on Tuesday inside the family's Martha Lane home in Acton, about 48 km from Boston.
How the murder was uncovered
The murder came to light when Arjun's father was unable to get in touch with his family at the Acton home on August 11. A tutor who was expected at the home had also been unable to make contact with anyone inside, following which he reached out to the cops.
Arjun's father last had contact with his wife Sudha early that morning before he left for work, while his younger son Siddharth was last seen around noon.
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As the cops arrived at the scene, they found the mother-son duo dead inside the house, with Siddharth on the first floor and Sudha in the finished basement, officials said.
Arjun was not in the home and had allegedly fled in his mother's car, police said.
Chase to find Arjun
As the cops tried to locate Arjun, they alerted all law enforcement agencies and the public to be on the lookout for him. However, investigators made a breakthrough in the case when police in Wayland, Massachusetts, responding to an unrelated alarm at a parking lot, found the vehicle with Arjun inside. He was taken into custody without incident.
Disturbing ChatGPT history
During the investigation, police found that Arjun had been showing concerning behaviour lately and had used the internet to find theoretical ideas or fantasies about killing his family.
"The subsequent investigation indicates that Arjun had recently been demonstrating concerning behaviour, including using the internet and ChatGPT to make searches for theoretical ideas or fantasies regarding killing his family," a statement by the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said.
Arjun was expected to be arraigned in Lowell Juvenile Court on Wednesday (local time). Since the Juvenile Court does not have jurisdiction over a murder charge, he will be arraigned on that charge and the related assault charges in Concord District Court later.
