Massachusetts teen charged with murdering mother and brother held without bail

A 17-year-old resident of Acton, Massachusetts, entered a not-guilty plea on Thursday to murder and related charges in the deaths of his 45-year-old mother, Sudha Venkatesan, and his 14-year-old brother, Siddharth Aravind. The arraignment took place in Concord District Court, and the teenager was ordered held without bail.

Prosecutor Susan Wiseman said the official cause of death has not yet been determined, but indicated that both victims suffered blunt-force trauma during a "physical and violent struggle." She added that items recovered from the mother’s car, where the teen was found at 3:40 a.m. in Wayland, correspond to the murder scene.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan told reporters that the teen had recently exhibited “concerning behavior, including using the internet and ChatGPT to make searches for theoretical ideas or fantasy stories regarding the killing of his family.” Court filings note that the father had become alarmed by his son’s online activity and began hiding knives in the home.

Defense attorney Debra DeWitt said her client appeared shocked after leaving the house and has not spoken to his father since the killings. She requested a psychiatric evaluation for the teenager. The next court appearance is scheduled for a probable-cause hearing on Sept. 11.

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

"The father just wants help for his son," DeWitt added.

The case remains under investigation, and a motive has not been disclosed.