California Student, 18, Found Dead in Dorm Room; Suicide Confirmed
Orange County Coroner rules death of UC Irvine sophomore a suicide by ligature hanging.
An 18-year-old UC Irvine student was found dead in his dorm room on Sunday, with the Orange County Coroner's office later determining the cause of death to be suicide by ligature hanging. The student, Amir Eftekhar, was a sophomore majoring in math.
Eftekhar resided in the Mesa Court dorm, a first-year housing community at the university. University officials notified students in the Mesa Court community about the death via an email from Angela Grundy, director of Residential Living. "I am writing to share some difficult news," the email stated. "A member of our Mesa Court community passed away today."
Grundy added that the student's family had been notified and that the university had extended its condolences. Support resources were also offered to students coping with the loss.
Speculation arose within the UC Irvine community that the death might have been heat-related, with some posts on the UC Irvine subreddit allegedly showing temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit in student housing. However, UC Irvine spokesperson Tom Vasich denied these claims, stating, "Information circulating that the student’s death was heat-related is incorrect, and there are no indications of any suspicious activity related to the student’s passing." Vasich confirmed that the university would not release further details out of respect for the student and family.
Students seeking support were directed to the UCI Counseling Center, which can be reached by phone at (949) 824-6457, or through the Crisis Text Line by texting "Home" to 741741.
UC Irvine, located in Irvine, is part of the University of California system and had an enrollment of over 36,000 students for the 2024-2025 academic year.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, resources are available. You can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line.