MA Teen Charged With Murder In Deaths Of Mother, Brother

ACTON, MA — A 17-year-old from Acton faces murder charges after his mother and younger brother were found dead inside their Martha Lane home Tuesday evening, authorities said.

Arjun Aravind was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of his mother, Sudha Venkatesan, 45, and his brother, Siddharth Aravind, 14, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo.

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Acton police responded to the home shortly after 6:37 p.m. after Aravind's father reported being unable to reach his family. A tutor who arrived at the home also could not contact anyone inside, authorities said.

Officers found Siddharth dead on the first floor and Venkatesan dead in the finished basement. Both had obvious trauma, but their causes and manners of death remained under investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Police said Aravind was not at the home and had allegedly left in his mother's green 2014 Honda Accord. Authorities issued an alert to law enforcement agencies and the public.

Early Wednesday, Wayland police officers responding to an unrelated alarm call found the Honda in a parking lot on Andrew Avenue with Aravind inside, according to the town. He was taken into custody without incident.

Investigators allege Aravind fatally assaulted his mother and brother before leaving the home. Authorities also said the investigation found that he had recently displayed concerning behavior, including using the internet and ChatGPT to search for hypothetical ideas or fantasies involving killing his family.

Officials have not identified what weapon or weapons may have been used.

Aravind also faces two counts each of assault and battery on a household or family member and assault and battery, as well as charges of using a vehicle without authority and motor vehicle theft.

Authorities said Aravind was scheduled to appear in Lowell Juvenile Court on Wednesday. Because Juvenile Court does not have jurisdiction over murder charges, he was expected to be arraigned on the murder and related assault charges in Concord District Court.

The case remains under investigation by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, Acton police and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office. Police from Harvard, Littleton, Lincoln, Maynard, Sudbury, Wayland, Westford and Weston also assisted.

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