Kerala Man Sentenced to Life for Brutal Family Murder, Claims Astral Projection as Motive
On May 13, 2025, Cadell Jeansen Raja, a Kerala man who claimed astral projection drove him to brutally kill his family, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Thiruvananthapuram court. The case, which unfolded over eight years, shocked the nation due to its gruesome nature and the bizarre motive cited by the accused.
Scene of the Crime
On April 8, 2017, residents of Bains Compound, Nanthankodu, Kerala—located just 650 meters from the Chief Medical Officer’s residence—reported a fire at the home of Rajathankam, a history professor, and his wife, Dr. Jean Padma, a cardiologist. Emergency services discovered four burnt and mutilated bodies in a bathroom on the first floor. A fifth body, covered with a blanket in another bathroom, was severely decomposed and infested with insects.
Police Investigation
The police investigation revealed that the house belonged to Rajathankam, 60, a history professor; his wife, Dr. Jean Padma, 58, a cardiologist; their son, Cadell Jeansen Raja, 35, a game developer; their daughter, Caroline, 26, an MBBS graduate from China; and Dr. Padma’s aunt, Lalitha, 70. Among the five bodies, one was identified as a metal dummy wrapped in clothes. Cadell was missing from the scene.
On April 10, 2017, a tip from a Thampanoor Railway Station staff member led to Cadell’s arrest. He was spotted disembarking from a train arriving from Chennai, wearing a blue t-shirt, jeans, and sporting long, wavy hair. Under interrogation, Cadell confessed to killing his family members.
Timeline and Background
Rajathankam and his family were known for their education and polite demeanor. However, Cadell struggled academically and resented comparisons to his high-achieving sister, Caroline. His behavior grew increasingly erratic, and he isolated himself in his room, engrossed in video games. His father sent him to Manila for MBBS studies, but Cadell returned after a year. He later pursued engineering in Australia but returned to India in 2009 due to a lack of interest. Eventually, he claimed to have secured a remote job as a game developer in Australia and moved back to Kerala.
Modus Operandi
On April 5, 2017, Cadell lured his mother to his room under the pretense of showing her a new game. He attacked her with a machete, playing loud music to mask her screams. After her death, he dragged her body to his bathroom, cleaned the blood, and casually prepared breakfast. When Caroline inquired about their mother, Cadell claimed she was still in his room. He later killed his father in the same manner and attempted to kill Caroline, who survived the initial attack but was fatally wounded when Cadell slit her throat. That night, he ordered food for five from a nearby restaurant and dined with Lalitha, Dr. Padma’s blind and mobility-impaired aunt.
The following day, Cadell informed the maid, Renjitha, and the cook that his family had gone to Kanyakumari. He killed Lalitha and disposed of her body in her bathroom. To conceal the crime, he stockpiled petrol and set the bodies of his parents and sister ablaze on April 8, fleeing the scene as the fire spread.
Motive of the Crime
Cadell’s solitary childhood and obsession with violent video games set the stage for his descent into disturbing beliefs. At 14, he became fixated on astral projection, the practice of witnessing a soul’s release from a body. He claimed to have spent 15 years researching and practicing it, even traveling to Australia under the guise of work to pursue this interest. Cadell planned the murders in May 2016, using a metal dummy for practice and ordering a machete online. He believed the souls of his family would enter the dummy, granting him supernatural power.
Court Proceedings
Cadell’s statements in court were inconsistent, ranging from claims of appeasing the devil to accusations of parental neglect and mental torture. The court deemed him mentally unfit for trial and sent him to the Mental Health Centre in Trivandrum for 20 days of observation. When no improvement was noted, he was transferred to district jail. After a suicide attempt on April 24, 2017, he was returned to the mental health facility and later placed in solitary confinement. On May 13, 2025, the Thiruvananthapuram court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 15 lakh as compensation to his maternal uncle.
Forensic Significance
Psychiatrists diagnosed Cadell with schizophrenia, a condition likely present since childhood. Questions arose about why his educated parents did not seek treatment for him. Doubts also lingered about the astral projection motive: if true, why did he not follow through with the practice? If the murders satisfied him, why did he flee in fear? These contradictions highlight the complexity of his mental state.
Conclusion
Had Cadell received timely treatment for schizophrenia, this tragedy might have been averted. This case underscores the importance of parental attention to children’s mental health, avoiding harmful comparisons, and fostering social integration. Forcing academic success without addressing emotional well-being can have devastating consequences.
References
- Kerala shocker: Man brutally kills parents, sister and aunt to worship Satan, arrested - India Today
- He claimed ‘astral projection’ led him to murder family; 8 years later, Kerala court rules man was motivated by anger, video games | India News - The Indian Express
- Kerala Man Who Claimed ‘Astral Projection’ Drove Him To Kill Family Gets Life Sentence
- Astral projection or premeditated crime? Verdict today in Nanthancode family murder case
- Kerala: Nanthancode Mass Murderer Cadell Jeansen Sentenced To Life - Mystery Of A Son Who Practiced 'Devil Worship' Or 'Satan Seva' News24
- Why did Cadell brutally kill his family, police rack brains to unravel murder mystery | Kerala News | Regional News
