Indian Tech Engineer Charged With Wife's Murder in Washington

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 Bellevue, Washington apartment. 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 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, reporting that his wife had locked herself in the bathroom and was not responding. Officers forced open the door and found Sabbineni on the floor; she was pronounced dead at the scene. During initial questioning, Narne said his wife had been feeling ill and suggested she might have consumed cough syrup before entering the bathroom.

Investigators said their probe uncovered inconsistencies in Narne's account. Internet search history showed he had searched for information about poisons before his wife's death. Phone records indicated 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.

Prosecutors contend the evidence 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 has drawn attention within the Indian community in the Pacific Northwest, where both Narne and Sabbineni lived 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 proceed through King County Superior Court, beginning with his arraignment later this week.