Thiruvananthapuram: A 30-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder of four members of his family on April 11 confessed he committed the crimes as part of satanic worship.

Cadell Jeansen Raja reportedly told investigators that he tried to ‘free the soul from body’ using a technique called as ‘astral projection.’ For this ‘out-of-the-body experience,’ he said he sacrificed his family. The police had arrested at Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala the previous day.

The bodies of retired professor Rajthankam, 60, his wife and retired doctor C. Jean Padma, 58, their daughter Carolyn, 25, and relative Lalitha, 70, were found mutilated and charred in their multi-story house at Nanthancode near the Kerala capital on April 9.

Cadell is the son of Rajthankam and Jean Padma.

The probe into the killings has thrown up startling revelations with the suspect, confessing that he was into satanic worship.

In his statement to the police, Cadell said he had killed all four members of his family on the same day by serving fatal blows to the head, The Malayala Manorama reported.

He confessed to the police that he had been practicing ‘devil worship’ for the past 10 years, without the knowledge of his family.

The 30-year-old Cadell, who returned from Australia after failing to complete a course, said he was influenced by satanic worship and became a part of a dark cult via Internet.

The police, however, suspect that Cadell, who is showing signs of mental instability, could be suffering from multiple personality disorder. Medical experts said they would need to observe Cadell for at least 10 days, before commenting on his health.