How ChatGPT searches preceded killing of US teen’s family

A 17-year-old boy in Massachusetts, United States, has been charged with allegedly killing his mother and 14-year-old brother after prosecutors said he used ChatGPT to develop fictional scenarios about killing members of his family.

Arjun Aravind, from Acton, a suburb of Boston, faces two counts of murder over the deaths of his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his brother, Siddharth Aravind, 14.

He was also charged with assault and battery for allegedly using a laptop as a weapon during the attack, according to a criminal complaint filed in Concord.

Investigators said they recovered a heavily damaged laptop covered in blood from the family’s home, as well as what appeared to be a knife.

Police were called to the family’s residence on Martha Lane at about 6:37 p.m. Tuesday for a welfare check after Aravind’s tutor, who had a scheduled 4 p.m. appointment, was unable to contact anyone inside the house.

Aravind’s father, who had left for work earlier, subsequently contacted the police.

Officers found both victims dead inside the home. Siddharth was discovered on the first floor with severe head injuries, while his mother was found in the basement with extensive injuries to her head and face.

The complaint also alleged that Venkatesan had a puncture wound to her stomach consistent with an object being used as a weapon.

Prosecutors said investigators found evidence that Aravind had used ChatGPT hours before the killings to develop fictional stories involving characters killing their parents.

According to the complaint, one of his prompts referred to a fictional character named Adrian and asked how the character could lure a parent into a basement before killing them. Another prompt reportedly asked what the character might say before killing his mother.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said the teenager had recently displayed concerning behaviour involving internet activity and ChatGPT searches related to violence against his family.

Ryan said the searches appeared to involve fictional or “gothic novel” scenarios but contained themes that appeared connected to threats against Aravind’s family.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

Prosecutors also said Aravind had been experiencing behavioural problems and that his family had reportedly hidden knives in the house because of concerns about him gaining access to them.

Investigators have not determined which of the two victims was killed first.

After the killings, Aravind allegedly left the house in his mother’s 2014 green Honda Accord.

Police later located the vehicle in a parking lot in Wayland, about 13 miles from the family home, after an alarm was triggered early Wednesday.

Aravind was found asleep inside the vehicle and was arrested without incident.

Police also found bedding, large quantities of cereal and protein energy bars in the car.

The criminal complaint said an individual whose identity was redacted had purchased more than $2,000 worth of cereal and energy bars from a nearby supermarket at about 4 p.m. Tuesday and reportedly told an employee that the items were intended for resale.

Police had previously encountered Aravind in 2025 after he was reported missing. Authorities treated that incident as a runaway case and said there were no threats of violence at the time.

His lawyer, Debra DeWit, urged the public not to reach conclusions before the case is heard in court.

“My client is distraught and confused,” she said, describing the incident as a tragedy for everyone involved.

Aravind pleaded not guilty on Thursday and was ordered to remain in custody without bail.

OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, had not immediately commented on the allegations.