An Indian software engineer from Telangana has been charged with the murder of his wife in Washington state, nearly nine months after she was found dead in the couple’s apartment.
According to investigators, 30-year-old Avinash Narne allegedly strangled his 27-year-old wife, Raajitha Sabbineni, in October 2025 and attempted to stage the scene to conceal the crime. An autopsy later confirmed that she died from asphyxia caused by strangulation, leading authorities to treat the case as a homicide.
Police said the couple had married in June 2025 and moved to Washington shortly afterward. During the investigation, detectives allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting Narne maintained a secret relationship with another woman in India and had planned the killing.
Court documents cited by local media also state that Sabbineni had previously complained that drinks prepared by her husband tasted unusually bitter. On the day of her death, she reportedly told him that a smoothie he made tasted like “medicine” and “cough syrup.”
Investigators further allege that Narne remained in contact with his girlfriend after the incident, speaking with her multiple times on the day of the alleged murder and sending her a photograph of his wife’s body.
The case came to light after Narne called emergency services, claiming he had returned home to find his wife unresponsive in the locked bathroom. Responding officers forced the door open and found Sabbineni dead inside.
Following months of investigation, Narne was arrested and is currently being held on a $5 million bond. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment under Washington state law.
