Indian-Origin Family Death: Cops Say Man Shot Wife, Daughter, Then Killed Himself in Murder-Suicide

Medical authorities in the US state of Massachusetts have ruled the deaths of wealthy Indian-origin couple Rakesh Kamal and Teena Kamal and their daughter Arianna Kamal murder-suicide after conducting their autopsies, news agency PTI said in a report.

The trio were found dead in their $5 million mansion in Dover, Massachusetts on December 28 and a firearm was found near Rakesh Kamal’s lifeless body. The office of the chief medical examiner confirmed that Teena and her daughter Arianna were victims of homicide by gunshot, Norfolk district attorney Michael Morrissey said in a press release issued by his office.

Rakesh Kamal died from a “gunshot wound consistent with being self-inflicted”, the press release said. The firearm Rakesh used is presumably a .40 calibre Glock 22, the release said pointing out that full forensic and ballistics testing of the gun is yet to be finalised.

The release pointed out that the gun was not registered in Rakesh’s name and he did not have the licence to possess it. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives have been asked to determine the origin of the firearm, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Massachusetts State Police have contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for assistance in determining the origin of the firearm. The incident remains under investigation by Dover and Massachusetts State Police.

Authorities earlier said preliminary investigation revealed that the incident was a case of domestic violence and did not initially indicate the involvement of outside parties.

The family’s sprawling mansion, estimated to be worth USD 5.45 million, went into foreclosure a year ago and was sold for USD 3 million, according to a report in The New York Post.

The Kamals purchased the 19,000-square-foot estate, which boasts 11 bedrooms and 14 bathrooms, for USD 4 million in 2019, according to the records, and media reports.

The slain family members were the only ones living in the mansion at the time, the DA said, adding that the area, one of the richest in the state, was a nice neighbourhood and a safe community.

Teena and her husband, who also went by Rick, had previously run a now-defunct education systems company called EduNova. The couple appeared to have faced financial problems in recent years, online records show. Their company was launched in 2016 but was dissolved in December 2021, state records show.