Death of wealthy Indian-origin family in Massachusetts: Autopsy reveals murder-suicide

The demise of a wealthy Indian-origin couple and their daughter in the US state of Massachusetts last week has been officially declared a murder-suicide by medical authorities following a thorough autopsy.

Rakesh Kamal, 57, his wife Teena Kamal, 54, and their college-going daughter Arianna Kamal, 18, were found dead in their $5 million mansion on December 28, 2023.

The Norfolk District Attorney's office released a press statement on Tuesday, confirming through autopsy results that Teena and Arianna were victims of homicide by gunshot, while Rakesh's death was ruled as a "self-inflicted" gunshot wound. The final autopsy report is likely to be completed in the coming weeks.

The release further said that while full forensic and ballistics testing of the gun has not been finalised, the firearm found with Rakesh is consistent with a .40 calibre Glock 22.

However, the firearm was not registered in Rakesh's name and “he was not licensed to possess it,” the release added.

Here is a detailed account of how the tragic event unfolded.

• Upon receiving a 911 call at approximately 7:24 p.m. on December 28, Dover Police responded to the Kamal residence. The family was discovered deceased, prompting an initial investigation that indicated domestic violence.
• The Kamal family's mansion, estimated at $5.45 million, went into foreclosure a year ago, eventually selling for $3 million. Financial troubles seemed to have plagued the family, with records showing the dissolution of their education systems company, EduNova, in December 2021. Teena had filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in September 2022, listing between $1 million and $10 million in liabilities. The couple's financial challenges were further underscored by the sale of their once-grand estate.
• Teena and Rakesh, both highly educated professionals, co-founded EduNova in 2016, offering a student success system. The company dissolved in 2021, reflecting the couple's financial setbacks.
• Teena was listed on EduNova's website as the chief operating officer of the company, describing her as an alum of Harvard University and Delhi University in India. According to his biography on the EduNova website, Kamal was an alumnus of Boston University and MIT Sloan School of Management, as well as Stanford University. Before working at EduNova, he held many executive-level positions in the education-consulting field, the biography added.
• Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey expressed the rarity of such a violent incident in Dover, emphasizing the community's small, well-run nature. The affluent neighborhood had not reported a homicide since 2020. Morrissey highlighted the challenges that can affect any community, underscoring the profound impact of this tragedy on the peaceful community.