Teen Arrested After Asking ChatGPT How to Attack His Family

A teenager in Massachusetts allegedly murdered his mother and brother after running various Internet searches and using ChatGPT to get ideas on how to commit the crime.

Arjun Aravind, 17, pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault and battery in Concord District Court on Thursday, August 13, according to NBC Boston. Two days earlier, Arjun’s father was unable to reach the family at their Acton home and called police to do a welfare check on the house.

Once inside, they found Arjun’s 14-year-old brother dead on the first floor and his mother dead in the home’s finished basement. The outlet reports there was a lot of blood all over the house, including up and down stairs from the second floor to the basement, indicating a struggle. Arjun is believed to have used a sharp object and a laptop to kill his family members.

Arjun’s father said his son has autism and the family had to hide knives from him around the house, the outlet reports. The family had done a lot to try to get him the care he needs, even reportedly moving towns and schools. However, his behavior did not improve.

“Arjun had recently been demonstrating concerning behavior, including using the internet and ChatGPT to make searches for theoretical ideas or fantasy stories regarding the killing of his family,” Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said at a press conference Wednesday.

After allegedly committing the murders, Arjun took his mother’s car and drove to a nearby Stop and Shop where he spent $2,000 on protein bars and cereal. He was later found in the parking lot of a medical facility in nearby Wayland, Massachusetts.

NBC Boston reports that his attorney, Debra DeWitt, spoke outside court on Thursday and informed the public that the teen’s “ability to totally comprehend is not there,” and that he hadn’t realized he’d killed his mother and brother.

He is scheduled to be in court again on September 11. Until then, he is being held without bond.