The death of an Arizona State University student whose body was discovered below the South Rim of the Grand Canyon has been ruled a suicide, according to autopsy findings released by the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office. Sandarsh Krishna, 26, died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a fall from a height.
Krishna was a master's student in computer science at Arizona State University. He disappeared during a last-minute trip to Grand Canyon National Park just weeks before his scheduled graduation. His family stated he had secured employment and planned to relocate to Las Vegas after completing his studies.
According to the medical examiner's report, Krishna checked into Bright Angel Lodge on April 27 and was last known to be alive that day. His family reported him missing on April 28 after being unable to contact him, expressing concerns about his mental state. A park visitor found Krishna's backpack on the South Rim the same day, near the location where his body was later recovered.
National Park Service personnel retrieved Krishna's body below the South Rim near Verkamp's Visitor Center on May 9. The National Park Service confirmed his identity and stated the investigation would remain open pending autopsy results.
Before his body was found, relatives publicly appealed for information and provided a timeline of his last known movements. The family indicated that Krishna was confirmed to be in his lodge room around 11 p.m. on April 27 and investigators believed he disappeared around 11:30 p.m. His sister-in-law, Dr. Pooja Shivananjappa, emphasized the importance of timeline details for investigators.
The family also offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the individual who found and returned Krishna's backpack. Authorities clarified that this person was not considered a suspect but was sought for potential additional information regarding the backpack's discovery.
When Krishna was initially reported missing, the National Park Service indicated he was last seen along the Rim Trail near Hermit Road, between Bright Angel Lodge and Mohave Point, sometime between the afternoon of April 27 and the early morning of April 28. Officials noted no known vehicle was associated with him, suggesting he may have used rideshare or taxi services within the park. He was described as 5 feet 10 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes, and was believed to be wearing athletic clothing.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the U.S. and Canada, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support 24 hours a day. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services.