Acton, Massachusetts teen held without bail in murders of mother, brother linked to ChatGPT

An Acton, Massachusetts teenager charged with killing his mother and brother in a case linked to ChatGPT is being held without bail.

Arjun Aravind, 17, was wearing handcuffs when a not guilty plea to murder and several other charges was entered on his behalf at his arraignment Thursday morning in Concord District Court.

He's accused of killing his 45-year-old mother Sudha Venkatesan and his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind, in their home on Martha Lane Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutor Susan Wiseman said Thursday the official cause of death has not been determined yet, but she said that it was a "physical and violent struggle."

"At this time, based on the evidence that was found at the scene, it was apparent that blunt force trauma was used in some fashion on both individuals," Wiseman said. 

Aravind was found several hours after the murders at 3:40 a.m. in his mother's car in a parking lot in Wayland and was arrested.

"A number of items were found in that car that correspond to the murder scene," Wiseman said.

There's no word yet on a motive. At a news conference announcing Aravind's arrest Wednesday, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said the teen "had been recently demonstrating some concerning behavior, including using the internet and ChatGPT to make searches for theoretical ideas or fantasy stories regarding the killing of his family." 

Court documents show that Aravind's father had recently become worried about his son's behavior and internet activity and had started hiding the knives in the house.

After the arraignment, Arjun's defense attorney Debra DeWitt spoke briefly with reporters.

"When he left the house he did not realize they were dead so he is, in my words, in somewhat of a shock situation," she said.   

DeWitt told CBS News Boston the family recently moved to Acton to provide a support system and schools for the kids.

"The father just wants help for his son," DeWitt said. She added that Aravind has not spoken with his father since the murders. DeWitt has requested a psychiatric evaluation for the teen.

Aravind is due back in court for a probable cause hearing on Sept. 11.

Acton, Massachusetts is about 30 miles northwest of Boston.