Amir Eftekhar’s cause of death has been confirmed by the Orange County Coroner two days after the 18-year-old was found in his UC Irvine dorm room.
The coroner ruled Tuesday that Eftekhar, a sophomore math major, died by ligature hanging and determined the manner of death to be suicide, The California Post reported. He had been discovered Sunday inside his room at Mesa Court, a first-year housing community on the Irvine campus composed of several towers.
Angela Grundy, director of Residential Living at the university, informed Mesa Court residents of the death through an email the same day.
“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,” Grundy continued. She also offered students support resources to help them process the loss.
Online speculation had circulated among the UC Irvine community suggesting Eftekhar’s death might have been heat-related, with photos on the university’s subreddit allegedly showing temperatures exceeding 90 degrees inside student housing. University spokesperson Tom Vasich directly addressed those claims when speaking with The Post.
“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 said. “Out of respect for the student and the family, the university will not share additional information about the circumstances.”
Vasich added that students struggling with the news could reach the UCI Counseling Center at (949) 824-6457 or use the Crisis Text Line by texting “Home” to 741741.
The university, part of the University of California system, enrolled more than 36,000 students for the 2024–2025 academic year. Eftekhar’s death marks a tragic loss within that community as the fall semester continues.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-TALK (8255), and the 24/7 hotline at 988 also provides support for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. The Crisis Text Line is available by texting 741741.