Concord District Court ordered 17-year-old Arjun Aravind held without bail after a not-guilty plea on two murder counts in the deaths of his mother, 45, and brother, 14.
Prosecutors said police found signs of a visible, violent struggle at the Acton home Tuesday night and evidence of blunt force trauma, though the cause of death and weapon have not been identified.
Wayland police found Aravind at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday in his mother's car about 14 miles away; investigators said items in the vehicle corresponded with evidence from the crime scene.
Defense lawyer Debra DeWitt said Aravind believed his mother and brother were only hurt when he left, argued that 'systems failed him,' and said mental health issues may have contributed.
The case follows investigators' disclosure that Aravind had shown concerning behavior, including internet and ChatGPT searches about theoretical or fantasy killings of his family; he returns to court Sept. 11.