The **Nanthancode Family Murder Case** is one of the most horrifying mass murder cases in Kerala's history. The crime took place in **April 2017** at a residence in **Nanthancode**, a quiet and affluent neighborhood in Thiruvananthapuram, located close to the official residence of the Kerala Chief Minister. The accused, **Cadell Jeansen Raja**, brutally murdered four members of his own family—his father, **Prof. Raja Thankam**, his mother, **Dr. Jean Padma**, his sister **Caroline**, and his aunt **Lalitha**. The gruesome nature of the crime and the bizarre explanation initially offered by the accused shocked the entire country.
Cadell belonged to a highly educated and well-respected family. His father was a retired college professor, while his mother was a renowned medical doctor. His sister had also pursued higher education, making the family well known in academic circles. According to investigators, Cadell had studied abroad but failed to complete his education and returned to Kerala. Police later alleged that he had developed deep resentment toward his family, believing they constantly criticized him and compared him unfavorably with other successful family members. Investigators concluded that these long-standing grievances eventually turned into violent hatred.
The murders were committed over two days, **April 5 and 6, 2017**. According to the prosecution, Cadell had carefully planned the killings in advance. Investigators said he purchased a hatchet and other materials, practiced attack techniques, and even rehearsed on dummies before carrying out the crime. One by one, he attacked his father, mother, sister, and aunt with the weapon inside their home. After the murders, he allegedly dismembered some of the bodies and attempted to destroy evidence by setting them on fire inside a bathroom. However, the fire spread beyond his control, partially damaging the house and leaving him with burn injuries.
The crime came to light on **April 9, 2017**, when neighbors noticed smoke coming from the house and alerted the authorities. Firefighters and police entered the residence expecting to deal with a house fire, but instead discovered a horrifying scene. Three charred bodies were found inside the bathroom, while another body was wrapped in bedsheets elsewhere in the house. Investigators also found a half-burnt human dummy that appeared to have been placed deliberately to confuse the investigation. Cadell was missing from the house, immediately making him the prime suspect.
After fleeing Kerala, Cadell traveled to Chennai, where he was arrested by the Railway Police and handed over to the Kerala Police. During questioning, he claimed the killings were connected to **"astral projection,"** a belief that the soul can separate from the physical body. He suggested he had been conducting a spiritual experiment to free his family members' souls. However, investigators rejected this explanation after psychiatric evaluations found him mentally fit to stand trial. Police concluded that the "astral projection" story was an attempt to mislead investigators and create the impression that he was legally insane. Instead, the prosecution argued that the murders were deliberate, calculated, and driven by years of resentment toward his family.
The trial lasted several years and relied on forensic evidence, witness testimony, digital evidence recovered from Cadell's electronic devices, and expert psychiatric assessments. In **May 2025**, the Additional Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram found Cadell Jeansen Raja guilty of four counts of murder, destruction of evidence, and arson. The court held that the crime had been meticulously planned and rejected the defense's claims relating to mental illness. He was later sentenced to **life imprisonment**, along with additional prison terms for destroying evidence and setting fire to the house.
The Nanthancode Family Murder Case continues to be remembered as one of Kerala's most disturbing crimes because of its brutality, careful planning, and the unsettling fact that the victims were the accused's own family members. It is frequently discussed in studies of criminal psychology, forensic investigation, and family-related homicide, while also serving as a reminder that prolonged emotional conflict and untreated personal grievances can sometimes culminate in tragic acts of violence.
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