By WILKO MARTÍNEZ-CACHERO, US REPORTER Published: 16:07, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 16:28, 14 August 2026 A Massachusetts teenager who allegedly used ChatGPT for searches about 'killing his family' before murdering his mother and brother flashed a wide-eyed stare in court, as prosecutors claimed he spent $2,000 on cereal bars following the murders. Arjun Aravind, 17, was arraigned in Concord District Court on Thursday after being accused of killing his mother Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his younger brother, Siddharth Aravind, 14, inside their $1 million home in Acton two days prior. Aravind, who had his hands and ankles cuffed, glanced around the courtroom at times, with his dark, wavy hair partly obscuring his face. A police report alleged that Aravind went to a Stop & Shop where he worked shortly after the killing Tuesday and purchased more than $2,000 in cereal and energy bars, according to the Boston Globe. Aravind used a credit card that police believe belonged to his mother, per the report. He allegedly planned to resell the bars. The teen was allegedly found asleep around 3.40am Wednesday inside his mom's 2014 Honda Accord, which investigators determined Aravind had left the family home in, according to prosecutors. Investigators allegedly found the cereal bars, bedding from the house, a laptop, a cellphone and Venkatesan's pocketbook inside the vehicle, according to the Globe. The police report added that Aravind's father, Sukumaran Aravind, told investigators his son's recent 'concerning internet activities' had caused the family to hide knives from him. Arjun Aravind, 17, appeared in Concord District Court on Thursday after being charged with murdering his mom Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and younger brother, Siddharth Aravind, 14 Aravind, with his attorney Debra DeWitt, could be seen occasionally glancing around the courtroom Aravind's mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and younger brother Siddharth, 14, were found dead with 'obvious trauma' inside their Acton home Tuesday evening Police added that Aravind's father told law enforcement that his son had been making ChatGPT searches about 'theoretical ideas and fantasies regarding killing his family,' the Globe reports. The father allegedly said Aravind, a rising senior at Acton-Boxborough High School, had been having behavioral issues and had been diagnosed with autism. He also told law enforcement that his son was prohibited from having a cellphone 'due to some prior behavior,' per the police report. Aravind allegedly used ChatGPT shortly before 8am on the day of the killings to create a scenario that involved killing parents. He allegedly made another search about 'killing mom' at 9.03am, police said. Aravind has been charged with two counts of murder, along with two counts each of assault and battery on a family or household member and assault and battery, as well as charges of using a vehicle without authority and motor vehicle theft. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan detailed how Aravind carried out the alleged killings during a press conference on Wednesday. Aravind's father had called police around 6.30pm Tuesday evening to ask for a welfare check at his family's home, per the Boston Herald. The father told dispatchers he became worried when a tutor arrived for a scheduled visit but was unable to get inside. Ryan said the father's own attempts to reach his family inside the home 'in a variety of ways' had gone unanswered. Aravind, a rising senior at Acton–Boxborough High School, allegedly made ChatGPT searches about 'theoretical ideas and fantasies regarding killing his family' before the murders Aravind's father allegedly told police that family had been hiding knives from his son due to his recent 'concerning internet activities' Police then arrived at the family's Martha Lane home and discovered the tragic deaths. Law enforcement found Aravind's younger brother, Siddharth, near the stairs leading to the basement, and his mom, Venkatesan, in the basement. Prosecutors have not yet specified how Aravind allegedly perpetrated the murders. However, Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Wiseman told the courtroom that it was 'apparent that blunt force trauma was used on both individuals,' the Globe reports. Investigators found a bloody laptop in the home. Its condition was 'consistent with it being used during the assault,' according to police, per the outlet. Siddharth had severe head trauma, while Venkatesan had injuries to her head, face and abdomen, police added. Aravind had cuts on both of his hands and swelling on his right hand when he was booked, per the police report. There was also 'presumptive blood on his hands and the soles of his feet.' Judge Lynn Brendemuehl, pictured during Thursday's arraignment, allowed a motion for funds so that Aravind could see a psychologist or psychiatrist Aravind was allegedly found asleep around 3.40am Wednesday inside his mom's 2014 Honda Accord, which prosecutors claimed he had left the family's home in Aravind’s attorney, Debra DeWitt, told the Daily Mail on Friday morning that she had ‘not seen any of the alleged searches or posts that were discussed at the arraignment.’ She added that the alleged ChatGPT searches had not been disclosed to her before the legal proceeding. In regards to the cereal bars, DeWitt told the Daily Mail that it was her understanding that Aravind had ‘gone to Shop and Stop and bought some food.’ ‘Again, what I knew and what they alleged are somewhat different,’ DeWitt said. She told the Daily Mail that ‘there seems to have been some type of altercation in the home’ and that Aravind ‘did not know that his family members were dead’ when he left the home. ‘He was shocked and traumatized upon learning this information,’ DeWitt told the Daily Mail. A not guilty plea was entered on Aravind's behalf on Thursday, according to WCVB. He was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to undergo a mental health evaluation before returning to court on September 11, per the outlet. Judge Lynn Brendemuehl allowed a motion for funds so that Aravind can see a psychologist or psychiatrist, per court records cited by MassLive. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and OpenAI, which develops ChatGPT, for comment.
المصدر: Daily Mail
| Source: Daily Mail
