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A 17-YEAR-OLD from Acton, Massachusetts has been charged with murdering his mother and younger brother after prosecutors alleged he used a laptop and a knife in the attacks and searched ChatGPT hours earlier for fictional scenarios about killing his family.
Arjun Aravind, of the Boston suburb of Acton, faces two counts of murder over the deaths of his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind, according to a criminal complaint filed in Concord.
NBC reported that he also faces assault and battery charges, with prosecutors alleging that he used a laptop as a dangerous weapon during the attacks.
Investigators said they recovered a heavily damaged laptop covered in blood that appeared to have been used during the assault.
A bent utensil, possibly a knife with an orange handle, was also found at the scene and is believed to have been used as a weapon, according to the complaint.
Prosecutors said Aravind had been experiencing behavioural problems and engaging in concerning internet activity before the killings.
The family had reportedly begun hiding knives in the home because of concerns that he might gain access to them.
Acton police were called to the family's home on Martha Lane at about 6.37pm on Tuesday for a welfare check after Aravind's tutor arrived for a scheduled 4pm appointment but was unable to contact anyone inside.
Aravind's father, who had left for work earlier that day, subsequently contacted police after failing to reach his family.
Officers found both victims dead inside the house.
Siddharth was found on the first floor with what prosecutors described as massive head trauma and lying in a pool of blood.
Venkatesan was discovered in the basement with severe trauma to her head and face, as well as a puncture wound to her stomach that prosecutors said was consistent with an object being used as a weapon.
Investigators also reported significant biological evidence in and around the bodies.
Hours before the killings, prosecutors said Aravind had used ChatGPT to explore fictional scenarios involving the murder of his parents.
According to the complaint, he entered questions including: "wait when Adrian kills parents I could see him luring one to convo in basement as they have always forced him to do but what excuse would he use to take their phone" and "maybe before killing mom Adrian coldly reveals".
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said investigators had uncovered evidence that Aravind had recently used the internet and ChatGPT to search for theoretical ideas and fantasy stories involving the killing of his family.
"He was engaged in the use of ChatGPT in creating fantasy stories, kind of the gothic novel kind of stories, asking questions, creating characters, asking what about this if this happened to that, and they seem to appear to relate to threats to his family," Ryan said.
Authorities have not alleged that ChatGPT instructed Aravind to commit the killings.
It remains unclear which victim was killed first. Ryan said Siddharth had left for a recreational facility at about 9am and returned home shortly after noon on Tuesday.
After the killings, Aravind allegedly fled in his mother's 2014 green Honda Accord.
The vehicle was detected at a car park in Wayland, about 21 kilometres from Acton, early Wednesday after an alarm was triggered.
Police recognised the vehicle's registration number and found Aravind asleep inside.
He was arrested without incident.
Investigators said the vehicle contained bedding and large quantities of cereal and protein energy bars.
The complaint also states that a person whose identity was redacted from the document had visited a nearby supermarket at about 4pm on Tuesday and bought more than US$2,000 worth of cereal and energy bars, reportedly saying the items were intended for resale.
Police had previously encountered the family after Aravind was reported missing the previous year.
Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo said that incident was treated as a runaway case and did not involve threats of violence.
Defence lawyer Debra DeWit urged the public not to reach conclusions before the case is heard in court.
"My client is distraught and confused," she said. "It's a tragedy for everyone."
Aravind pleaded not guilty on Thursday and was ordered to be held without bail.
The charges remain allegations and Aravind is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. - August 14, 2026
