On the evening of April 24, 2025, in a quiet townhouse community in Newcastle, Washington, a tragic event unfolded that claimed the lives of three family members. Shwetha Panyam, a 44-year-old female of Indian origin, was found deceased in her home from gunshot wounds. Her death, along with that of her 14-year-old son, was ruled a homicide by the King County Medical Examiner's Office.
Authorities were called to the residence on 129th Street after receiving a 911 call.
Upon arrival, they discovered the bodies of Shwetha, her son, and her husband, Harshavardhana Kikkeri. Investigators determined that Harshavardhana Kikkeri fatally shot his wife and son before taking his own life. His death was ruled a suicide. The motive for the murder-suicide has not been released by the King County Sheriff's Office, which is leading the investigation.
Shwetha Panyam and her husband were the co-founders of HoloWorld, a robotics and AI company they had established in India in 2017 before returning to the United States in 2022. Neighbors described the family as quiet and mostly kept to themselves.
The couple's younger son was not home at the time of the incident and was found to be safe. He has since been placed in the care of relatives. The investigation into the circumstances that led to this devastating event is ongoing, leaving a community in shock and mourning the loss of a mother and her young son.
