Authorities Treat Death as Suicide

Officials informed his roommate, Baneet Singh, that the case is being treated as a suicide. The development has deeply affected the campus community, with Singh stating in a LinkedIn post that the incident left many “shocked to the core.” He noted there were no clear warning signs until the final two weeks before Sreenivasaiah’s disappearance.

Saketh Sreenivasaiah death in US: Indian student came back from class ‘wearing red bathrobe’, roommate on 'what went wrong in last 2 weeks'https://t.co/MaR9IoDARu

— The Tribune (@thetribunechd) February 16, 2026

Roommate Recalls Behavioural Changes

Singh wrote that the student had begun withdrawing both socially and physically. He said Sreenivasaiah had started eating less and was mostly surviving on chips and cookies during that period. Singh also mentioned that weeks earlier, Sreenivasaiah had invited him to visit Lake Anza, an invitation he declined, only later realising its significance.

Recalling their last interaction, Singh wrote that Sreenivasaiah returned from class wearing a red bathrobe. When asked about it, he replied that he had “stopped caring” and no longer cared about what others thought of him. Singh said he initially assumed the remark was casual but later understood its seriousness.

Consulate Assists Family, Probe Continues

The Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed recovery of the body and stated that it is assisting the family with emergency travel arrangements and the repatriation of the mortal remains to India. Authorities have not released further details as the investigation remains ongoing.

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