Foreign

US: How 17-year-old Boy Allegedly Killed Mother, Brother After ChatGPT Searches

Published

3 weeks ago

August 17, 2026

Admin

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/khgvb-1.jpg&description=US: How 17-year-old Boy Allegedly Killed Mother, Brother After ChatGPT Searches', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

/home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/khgvb-1.jpg&description=US: How 17-year-old Boy Allegedly Killed Mother, Brother After ChatGPT Searches', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">

ADVERTISEMENT

A 17-year-old boy in Massachusetts, United States, allegedly killed his mother and 14-year-old brother after using ChatGPT to search for “theoretical ideas or fantasy stories regarding the killing of his family,” prosecutors said.

Arjun Aravind, 17, of Acton, a Boston suburb, was charged with 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 dangerous weapon, a Laptop,” to attack the two victims, according to a criminal complaint filed in Concord.

Investigators said they found “a heavily damaged bloody laptop computer” at the family’s home, which they believed was used during the attack.

Police also found what appeared to be a knife.

“A bent utensil, possibly a knife with an orange handle, was also found in the area of the disturbance,” the complaint said.

What happened
Acton police officers went to the family’s home on Martha Lane at about 6:37 p.m. Tuesday for a welfare check.

Aravind’s tutor, who had a 4 p.m. appointment at the home, “was unable to make contact with residents upon arrival,” prosecutors said.

Shortly afterwards, Aravind’s father, who had left for work hours earlier, called police.

Officers then “found both victims dead inside,” Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.

Siddharth was found on the first floor, while his mother was found in the basement.

The complaint said the boy was found “with massive trauma to the head” and “lying in a pool of blood.”

Venkatesan was found with “heavy trauma” to her head and face. She also had “a puncture rod to her stomach consistent with some object being used as a weapon,” according to the complaint.

“As officers cleared the residence, significant biological evidence was observed in and around the bodies,” the probable cause statement said.

ChatGPT searches before the killings

Prosecutors said Aravind had used ChatGPT hours before the killings to write about fictional characters killing their parents.

According to the complaint, he typed: “wait when Adrian kills parents I could see him luring one to convo in basement as they have always forced him to do but what excuse would he use to take their phone”

He also wrote: “maybe before killing mom Adrian coldly reveals,” according to the complaint.

Ryan said Aravind had recently shown what investigators described as concerning behaviour involving the internet and ChatGPT.

“The investigation has so far shown that Arjun had recently been 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,” Ryan told reporters on Wednesday.

A representative for OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Ryan said the searches appeared to involve fictional stories and characters but were linked to threats involving Aravind’s family.

“He was engaged in the use of ChatGPT in creating fantasy stories, kind of the gothic novel kind of stories, asking questions, creating characters, asking what about this if this happened to that, and they seem to appear to relate to threats to his family,” Ryan said.

Family had reportedly hidden knives
According to the complaint, Aravind had been experiencing “behavioral issues” and had been involved in “concerning internet activities.”

The family had reportedly been hiding knives in the house to stop him from getting access to them.

Ryan said it was unclear which victim was killed first.

Siddharth had gone to a recreational facility at about 9 a.m. and returned home shortly after noon on the day of the killings.

“This is an unspeakable tragedy,” Ryan said. “It is an incredibly dark day. Obviously, an insurmountable tragedy for the dad in this case.”

After the killings, Aravind and his mother’s 2014 green Honda Accord were missing from the home.

An alarm was triggered at a parking lot about 13 miles away in Wayland early Wednesday.

Officers “recognized that license plate, and Arjun was inside that car,” Ryan said.

“He was taken into custody by police without incident,” she added.

Aravind was found asleep inside the vehicle. Police also found bedding and “large amounts of cereal and protein energy bars.”

According to the complaint, a person whose name was redacted from the court document had gone to a nearby supermarket at about 4 p.m. Tuesday and bought “an enormous” amount of cereal and energy bars.

“This employee reported this purchased was in excess of $2,000 and when questioned, he reported he had plans to sell the items,” the complaint said.

Previous contact with police

Police had previously dealt with the family after Aravind was reported missing in 2025.

Acton Police Chief Douglas Sturniolo said the incident was treated as a runaway case and involved no threats of violence.

Aravind’s lawyer, Debra DeWit, urged the public not to reach conclusions before the case is heard.

“My client is distraught and confused,” she said. “It’s a tragedy for everyone.”

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

Foreign

Prince Harry and Meghan not working royals, says King

Published

2 days ago

September 8, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be working royals allowed to carry out official engagements now they have returned to the UK, a letter sent on behalf of King Charles spells out.

The letter is intended to clarify the status of Prince Harry and Meghan, who moved back from California with children Archie and Lilibet last month.

They will still not be able to use titles of “His and Her Royal Highness”, and remain “private citizens”, says the letter sent on behalf of the King by the Lord Chamberlain, a top Palace official.

It comes as Prince Harry appears to have been pictured for the first time since his return, with a photo on social media showing him at a London TV and podcast studio.

The King’s letter has been sent to Prince Harry’s team, government departments, military officials and Lord Lieutenants, according to Palace sources.

Lord Lieutenants, who are the monarch’s local representatives, and government staff are often involved in royal visits and engagements.

This letter makes clear that any engagements carried out by the Sussexes will be in a private capacity and they will not be representing the Royal Family.

It seems to be something of a shot across the bows, making clear that any Prince Harry and Meghan visits should not be treated as royal engagements.

This comes ahead of what are likely to be public appearances by the Sussexes this autumn, as they settle in the UK and support their charities.

The couple have kept a low profile, but the first picture of Prince Harry since coming back to the UK appears to have been posted on the social media account of Tower Bridge Studios in London.

The message from the King emphasises that the position agreed in 2020 when the Sussexes left the UK – the so-called Sandringham Agreement – is still in place.

This ruled out any “half-in and half-out” status, so Harry and Meghan could not pursue their own commercial interests while continuing to be working royals.

“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign, and are no longer working members of the Royal Family,” the letter says.

The letter sent on behalf of the King makes it clear that this remains the case.

“The charitable work of the Duke and Duchess is a personal matter for them both and undertaken in their private capacity,” it adds.

The King’s message says that any questions from organisations about the reception to be given to the Sussexes, “particularly where recourse to public funds may be required, should be directed to Buckingham Palace”.

Prince Harry and Meghan faced an acrimonious departure from the UK in 2020, which they chronicled in their Netflix documentary.

They established their financial independence in California, including Prince Harry writing a best-selling memoir Spare and Meghan creating an online food range, As Ever.

This summer the couple made a surprise return to the UK, where their children will be going to school.

It’s expected that Prince Harry will be supporting his charities, including the Invictus Games, which are due to be held in Birmingham next year.

There have been reports that Meghan is considering a return to acting.

Disputes about Prince Harry and Meghan’s security in the UK remain unresolved and the letter spells out: “Any operational security issues should continue to be directed to the relevant police authorities.”

Prince Harry has complained about a lack of adequate police protection in the UK, but the Palace says that has to be addressed by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee – known as Ravec – which decides security for royals and public figures.

Palace sources have suggested it was better to make the Lord Chamberlain’s letter public, in a spirit of transparency, rather than risk it emerging in leaks.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s representatives have been contacted for a response.

Foreign

Iraqi court affirms woman’s right to Change and register her religion from Muslim to Christian

Published

2 days ago

September 8, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

Iraq’s top appellate court has concurred with a ruling allowing a woman to change her religious status to Christian in the government database.

Alliance Defending Freedom International, which supported the woman’s legal journey, identified her only as Maryam, explaining that she was automatically registered as a Muslim after her mother married a Muslim while Maryam was a minor.

Prior to the remarriage, Maryam had been raised in a Christian household, ADF International stated. An Iraqi ordinance stipulates that “minor children shall follow the religion of the parent who has converted to Islam.”

After becoming an adult, Maryam sought to change her status to Christian. A lower court granted the request in May, ADF International noted, and Iraq’s Court of Cassation concurred in July.

ADF International said this “sets persuasive precedent for scores of Christians in Iraq facing serious legal and personal consequences” from being wrongly classified as Muslim in the government database. Misclassification can pose complications in education, marriage or inheritance.

The decision also is seen as granting Christians and other minorities more religious freedom in instances of misclassification.

ADF International plans to support similar legal action for Maryam’s two sisters after they reach adulthood.

Iraq is No. 18 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.

Foreign

Volcanic Eruption Leaves Thousands Stranded in Indonesia

Published

3 days ago

September 7, 2026

Admin

ADVERTISEMENT

More than 150,000 passengers have been left stranded after a volcanic eruption forced Indonesian authorities to temporarily suspend operations at eight airports.

According to the report, Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport was the first to be closed on Sunday morning after ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in airspace near the airport.

Transport minister Dudy Purwagandhi said so far 712 flights have been affected and asked airlines to consider diverting some flights to other airports.

The volcano had started erupting late on Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds across surrounding regions.

The transport ministry said the pause in operations mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, and other international routes including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

Purwagandhi said the decision to temporarily close more airports was made after tests found that volcanic ash had spread towards West Java.

He urged airlines to speed up processes for refunding tickets for passengers who have been affected by flight cancellations, and for airlines to provide timely information to those with upcoming flights to avoid overcrowding at airports.