ACTON, MA — A 17-year-old Massachusetts student was arraigned Thursday on murder charges in the deaths of his mother and younger brother at the family’s Acton home earlier this week.
Prosecutors said the case involves two deaths inside the residence Tuesday night, and the teen was ordered held without bail while he awaits a mental health evaluation.
Teen faces murder, assault charges in Concord District Court
Arjun Aravind, 17, was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of assault and battery on a family or household member, and two counts of assault and battery. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf in Concord District Court.
He is accused of killing his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind. Court records said he is scheduled to return on Sept. 11.
Police found signs of a violent struggle inside the home
Officials said officers responded after a scheduled tutor could not get into the house and Aravind’s father asked for a welfare check. When police entered, investigators reported clear signs of a violent struggle.
A prosecutor said the victims showed signs of blunt force trauma. A police report also described a heavily damaged bloody laptop near a large blood stain and a bent utensil, possibly a knife with an orange handle, in the disturbed area.
District attorney says teen had searched online about fictional family killings
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said Wednesday that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the causes and manners of death. She also said Aravind had previously used the internet and ChatGPT to explore gothic novel ideas involving deaths of family members.
According to police reports, his father said the teen had behavior issues over the past year and that the family had been hiding knives from him. Defense attorney Debra Dewitt said Aravind did not realize when he left the house that his mother was dead.
Teen was arrested after Wayland police found him in family car
Ryan said Wayland police located Aravind early Wednesday morning in his mother’s 2014 green Honda Accord after responding to an unrelated alarm call. Police said he had been known to them from a runaway incident about a year earlier, but otherwise had little contact with law enforcement.
Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo offered condolences to the family and said investigators would keep working to protect the community. Residents described the case as shocking and frightening for the neighborhood and the local school system.
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