Horror as California college student, 18, found dead in dorm room — as coroner reveals cause of death

A California college student was found dead in his dorm room at a top-tier Orange County university on Sunday.

Amir Eftekhar, 18, died by suicide inside his residence, the Orange County Coroner told The California Post on Tuesday.

Eftekhar lived at the Mesa Court dorm, a first-year housing community with several towers. The coroner determined he died by ligature hanging and ruled the manner of death a suicide.

He majored in math and was a sophomore at the college, according to the Los Angeles Times.

UC Irvine students living in the Mesa Court community were informed via an email from director of Residential Living Angela Grundy.

“I am writing to share some difficult news,” she wrote. “A member of our Mesa Court community passed away today.

“His family has been notified, and the university has extended its deepest condolences to them during this time.” She then offered students support to deal with the loss.

Extensive speculation in the UC Irvine community surrounded whether Eftekhar’s death could have been heat-related. Photos on the UC Irvine subreddit allegedly showed temperatures over 90 degrees within student housing.

UC Irvine spokesperson Tom Vasich told The Post that any such insinuations that the student’s death was heat-related are false.

“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. Out of respect for the student and the family, the university will not share additional information about the circumstances,” he said.
 
“We recognize that news of a student’s passing can be difficult. Students who need support are encouraged to contact the UCI Counseling Center (https://counseling.uci.edu/). Students can call (949) 824-6457 or utilize the Crisis Text Line by texting “Home” to 741741.”

UC Irvine had more than 36,000 students enrolled for the 2024–2025 academic year. The school is located in Irvine and is part of the University of California system.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

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