Software Engineer Charged with Wife's Murder in US
A 30-year-old Indian software engineer, Avinash Narne, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Raajitha Sabbineni, who was found dead in their Bellevue, Washington apartment in October 2025. Police allege that Narne strangled her and staged the crime scene to conceal the killing.
According to charging documents cited by local media, Narne admitted to sending his girlfriend a photograph of Sabbineni's body the day after her death. The accused remains in custody on USD 5 million (around Rs 48 crore) bail. If convicted, the Indian national could face life imprisonment under Washington state law.
Discovery of the Body
One night in late October 2025, Bellevue Police received a call from a man saying his wife had locked herself inside the bathroom and was not responding. When officers arrived, they forced entry into the bathroom and found Sabbineni lying on the floor. She was pronounced dead at the scene, less than six months after the couple's marriage.
However, an autopsy later determined that she died from asphyxia caused by strangulation and her death was officially ruled a homicide.
Investigation Points to Husband
While the investigation gradually pointed towards the husband, he made several claims to avoid suspicion. Narne told detectives that on the day of her death, he left the home to run errands and returned approximately 40 minutes later. According to his account, he then discovered that Sabbineni was locked inside the bathroom and called police after being unable to get a response.
However, police said digital evidence contradicted any theory that someone else entered the home while Narne was away. According to charging documents, officials analyzed data from the apartment's front-door security and smart-lock system. The records confirmed that Narne had briefly left the residence but showed that no other person entered the apartment during the period he was away. Officials then effectively ruled out the possibility that an unknown intruder entered the home and killed Sabbineni.
Secret Relationship Revealed
Detectives examined Narne's communications and personal relationships, uncovering what prosecutors describe as a possible motive. Court documents allege that Narne had been involved in a secret relationship with another woman in India before marrying Sabbineni. Police said the relationship continued after the wedding and that the woman had even attended the couple's marriage ceremony.
According to prosecutors, Narne remained in regular contact with the woman after his marriage. Police found that he called her at least four times on the day of Sabbineni's death, including around the time he later claimed he was attempting to gain access to the bathroom, according to local news reports. Police also alleged that Narne sent the woman a photograph of Sabbineni's body the day after her death. He reportedly acknowledged doing so during questioning.
Disturbing Messages Before Death
The charging documents also reveal a series of messages exchanged between Sabbineni and Narne in the weeks leading up to her death. According to police, Sabbineni repeatedly complained that drinks prepared by her husband tasted unusually bitter. On the day she died, she allegedly told Narne that a smoothie he had made tasted like medicine and cough syrup. Narne even suggested to officials when they arrived to check the home that the wife had been feeling unwell and might have collapsed after consuming cough syrup.
Arrest and Charges
For nearly eight months following Sabbineni's death, Narne remained free while detectives continued gathering evidence, reviewing digital records and conducting interviews. The investigation culminated in a follow-up interview with Narne, after which Bellevue Police arrested him on suspicion of first-degree murder. On July 1, 2026, a local court formally charged him with first-degree murder, reflecting prosecutors' allegation that the killing was intentional and premeditated.
