In a tragic incident reported from Newcastle, Washington, an Indian-origin tech entrepreneur allegedly shot dead his wife and 14-year-old son before dying by suicide at their home on April 24, according to US authorities. The King County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation into the case. The deceased have been identified as 57-year-old Harshavardhana S. Kikkeri, founder and CEO of the now-defunct robotics company HoloWorld, his wife and company co-founder Shwetha Panyam (44), and their teenage son. Another son, who was not at home at the time of the incident, survived. Kikkeri, originally from KR Pet taluk in Mandya district, Karnataka, and Panyam co-founded HoloWorld in Mysuru’s Vijayanagar in 2017 after returning from the United States. The company, focused on robotics and immersive technology, was shut down in 2022 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kikkeri had since returned to the US with his family. While the motive behind the apparent murder-suicide remains unclear, police say investigations are ongoing. Several media outlets, quoting neighbors, described the family as reserved but friendly.
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