A Massachusetts teenager allegedly used ChatGPT to fantasise about murdering his family before killing his mother and younger brother in their $1 million home.
17-year-old Arjun Aravind was detained last Wednesday after his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and brother Siddharth Aravind, 14, were found dead with ‘obvious trauma’ the previous night, according to police.
Just days before the deaths, Aravind is alleged to have used artificial intelligence to look up ‘fantasy’ stories about his family’s deaths.
Police say he had used the app to explore ‘theoretical ideas or fantasy stories regarding the killing of his family.’
This search history came to light after it was reported that the teenager had been exhibiting ‘concerning behaviour’ online.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan — who called the incident an ‘unspeakable tragedy’ — said in a press conference last week: ‘He was engaged in the use of ChatGPT to create fantasy stories, Gothic novels, creating characters asking what about this, what about that, which appear to relate to threats to his family not surviving.’
Aravind was later charged with two counts of murder, two counts each of assault and battery on a family or household member and assault and battery, Daily Mail reports.
He was also charged with using a vehicle without authority and motor vehicle theft after Aravind was alleged to have been found asleep inside his mother’s 2014 Honda Accord at 3.40 am last Wednesday.
Prosecutors claim Aravind purchased more than $2,000 in cereal and energy bars with Sudha’s credit card following the murders, which it is thought he was planning to resell.
The cereal bars, along with bedding from the family home, a laptop, a mobile, and his mother’s pocketbook was reportedly found in the vehicle with Aravind, according to Boston Globe.
The police report stated Aravind’s father, Sukumaran, told authorities about his son’s recent ‘concerning internet activities’.
(Picture: Lane Turner/The Boston Globe)
He said his son had been having behavioural issues, had been diagnosed with autism, and that he had been banned from using a mobile ‘due to some prior behaviour.’
The dad also stated that Aravind’s online searches had led to the family hiding knives in the home.
During last week’s press conference, Ryan explained how Aravind allegedly carried out the killings.
Ryan said Aravind’s father — who was away on the day of the murders —called the police on the Tuesday evening to request a welfare check on his family.
Sukumaran reportedly became worried after a tutor contacted him to say he was unable to enter the property for a scheduled visit.
Aravind’s father had also attempted to contact his family ‘in a variety of ways,’ to no avail.
When police arrived at the property, they discovered the deaths of Sudha and Siddharth.
Siddharth was found by the stairs leading to the basement, while Sudha’s body was in the basement.
Currently, it is not known exactly how Aravind is alleged to have committed the killings.
However, Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Wiseman told a Concord District Courtroom last week it was ‘apparent that blunt force trauma was used on both individuals.’
The police also found a bloody laptop in the house that they said was ‘consistent with it being used during the assault.’
Police said Siddharth was found to have suffered severe head trauma. Sudha had sustained injuries to her head, face and abdomen.
When Aravind was arrested, he reportedly had cuts on both hands and swelling to his right.
The teen also had ‘presumptive blood on his hands and the soles of his feet,’ police said.
Aravind appeared in court last Thursday, showing no emotion. The teen had his hands and feet in chains, and his long black hair obscured part of his face.
A not guilty plea was entered on Aravind’s behalf, according to WCVB, and he was ordered to be held without bail.
Aravind will undergo a mental health evaluation before returning to court on September 11.