Arjun Aravind, 17, Charged With Killing Mother, Brother

India -West News Desk

ACTON, MA -A 17-year-old boy has been charged with murdering his mother and 14-year-old brother at their home here, with authorities saying the teenager had recently searched online for material involving the killing of his family.

Arjun Aravind was taken into custody in nearby Wayland on August 12 after police found him in a Honda Accord belonging to his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan told the media.

Venkatesan, 45, and her 14-year-old son, Siddharth Aravind, were found dead inside their Martha Lane home on the evening of August 11. Police discovered Siddharth on the first floor and his mother in the basement.

Both victims had suffered obvious trauma, Ryan said. Investigators have yet to determine the official cause of death or establish what weapon or weapons were involved.

The alarm was raised after Aravind’s father contacted police at about 6:30 p.m. on August 11. He had been unable to reach his family and asked officers to check on them. A tutor who arrived at the house earlier for a scheduled appointment had also received no response.

Authorities said the killings took place sometime during a lengthy period on August 11. Venkatesan was last seen by her husband when he left for work at about 7 a.m. Siddharth had gone to a recreation center that morning and returned home around noon.

Police said Arjun Aravind left the house in his mother’s car. The Honda Accord was found in a Wayland parking lot early on August 12 after officers responded to a business alarm. Aravind was inside the vehicle and was arrested without incident, Ryan said.

He faces two murder counts as well as charges of assault and battery and motor vehicle theft.

Ryan said investigators have not established a motive but noted that Aravind had recently displayed what she described as “concerning behavior.” According to the district attorney, the teenager had used the internet and ChatGPT to search for theoretical ideas or fantasy stories about killing his family.

Acton Police Chief Doug Sturniolo said Aravind had previously been known to local police after running away from home at one point last year.