A 30-year-old Indian software engineer has been charged with first-degree murder nearly nine months after his wife was found dead in their apartment in Bellevue, Washington. Investigators allege that his statements to police were contradicted by digital evidence and phone records.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Avinash Narne on July 1 in connection with the death of his 27-year-old wife, Raajitha Sabbineni, who was found unresponsive in the bathroom of the couple’s apartment on Oct. 27, 2025. Narne remains in custody on $5 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, July 7.
According to court documents, Narne called 911 on the night of Oct. 27, telling dispatchers that his wife had locked herself in the bathroom and was not responding. When officers arrived, they forced open the bathroom door and found Sabbineni lying on the floor. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
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During initial questioning, Narne informed investigators that his wife had been feeling ill and suggested she might have consumed cough syrup before entering the bathroom. However, detectives said their investigation uncovered inconsistencies in his account that prompted a lengthy homicide investigation.
Investigators reportedly recovered internet search history indicating that Narne had searched for information related to poisons before his wife’s death. Authorities also examined his phone records and alleged that he made four calls around the time of the incident to a woman in India whom prosecutors described as his girlfriend. The digital evidence became a key factor in the decision to file murder charges.
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Prosecutors contend that the evidence gathered over the past several months supports the conclusion that Sabbineni’s death was not accidental. Court filings allege Narne intentionally caused her death, though authorities have not publicly disclosed the precise cause of death or additional forensic details.
The case drew attention within the Indian community in the Pacific Northwest, where both Narne and Sabbineni had been living while Narne worked as a software development engineer.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Narne could face a lengthy prison sentence under Washington state law. The criminal case will now proceed through the King County Superior Court, beginning with his arraignment later this week.