Mysuru-Based Tech CEO, Family Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide in US

A Mysuru-based tech entrepreneur, Harshavardhana Kikkeri, died by suicide while his wife, Shwetha Panyam, and their 14-year-old son were found shot dead at their residence near Newcastle, Washington, on 24 April 2025.

The King County Sheriff’s Office suspects a murder-suicide, with investigations ongoing to determine the motive. The couple’s younger son, aged seven, survived as he was outside the home during the incident, The Seattle Times reported.

Kikkeri was the CEO of HoloWorld, a robotics company headquartered in Mysuru’s Vijayanagar neighbourhood, which he co-founded with his 44-year-old wife, Shwetha Panyam.

Brandyn Hull, a spokesperson for the King County Sheriff’s Office, stated that authorities suspect a murder-suicide. However, investigators are still working to determine the precise cause of the tragedy.

The Incident

The King County Sheriff’s Office reported that officers responded to a 911 call around 7pm. Upon arrival, deputies observed blood on the front window and a single hollow-point bullet on the pavement outside the home.

Detectives are actively investigating the sequence of events leading to the tragedy. “These types of investigations take time, and our detectives are working tirelessly to reconstruct what caused this tragedy,” Sheriff’s spokesperson Brandyn Hull told The Seattle Times.

The couple’s seven-year-old younger son survived the tragedy as he was outside the home when the incident occurred. Neighbours described the family as calm and reserved. Alex Gumina, president of the homeowners’ association, noted that they were known for being quiet.

The Co-Founders

Harshavardhana Kikkeri, originally from Mandya, Karnataka, was educated in Mysuru before relocating to the US. He earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Syracuse University and worked at Microsoft, specialising in robotics.

The former CEO received numerous leadership accolades, including a Gold Star from Microsoft, an Excellence Award from Infosys, the Bharat Petroleum Scholarship and several chess-competition awards.

After returning to India in 2017, Kikkeri and his wife, Shwetha Panyam, founded HoloWorld, which reportedly shut down in 2022.

In 2022, Kikkeri and his family returned to the US and developed HoloSuit, a full-body motion-capture suit with AI capabilities. The innovation garnered attention for its potential to serve as a virtual trainer for the human body.