A teenager from Massachusetts allegedly used ChatGPT for “ideas” and “fantasies” about “killing his family,” leading to charges of murdering his mother and brother, according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
The 17-year-old, Arjun Aravind, from Acton, faces multiple charges, including two counts of murder, along with assault and battery against family members, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. The victims are his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth, and their 45-year-old mother, Sudha Venkatesan.
“Based on evidence found at the scene, it was obvious that blunt force trauma was involved for both individuals,” said a spokesperson for the prosecution.
The police were alerted by Arjun’s father, who couldn’t reach the family around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, which raised alarms when a tutor arrived for scheduled lessons. The father had last spoken to his wife earlier that morning before heading to work; Siddharth was last seen around noon.
Upon entering the home, officers discovered both victims’ bodies, with Siddharth found on the first floor and Sudha in the finished basement.
As police investigated, they learned Arjun was not at the location and suspected he had fled the scene in his mother’s green 2014 Honda Accord.
After an unsuccessful search for him, police were notified, and they later spotted the vehicle carrying Arjun early Wednesday morning in Wayland, about 20 minutes south of Acton. He was taken into custody without incident.
Investigators later revealed that Arjun had shown concerning behavior, including using the Internet and ChatGPT to explore ideas related to murdering his family. He also requested help from ChatGPT to create a “gothic novel-like story.”
It is alleged that he assaulted and ultimately killed his mother and brother before escaping. Both victims showed obvious signs of trauma, though the exact cause and method of death have not been determined yet, and investigators are still examining what weapon might have been used.
During his arraignment, Arjun was handcuffed as not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf for the murder charges. He is currently being held without bail.
His father had reportedly grown uneasy about Arjun’s behavior online and had begun hiding knives in the home. Prosecutor Susan Wiseman noted that the evidence pointed to a “physical and violent struggle,” emphasizing the blunt force trauma evident on both individuals.
When authorities found Arjun in his mother’s car at 3:40 a.m., they also discovered items consistent with a murder scene within the vehicle. Following the arraignment, Arjun’s attorney indicated that he “didn’t realize when he left the house that they were dead and is in a state of shock.”
The father, distraught, seeks help for his son, who has not communicated with him since the incident. A probable cause hearing for Arjun is scheduled for September 11.
Editor’s note: This article was corrected after publication to clarify that Wayland is 20 minutes south of Acton, not 20 miles.
