OpenAI Whistleblower's Death Investigated Amid Family's Murder Allegations

Suchir Balaji's family disputes suicide ruling, alleging foul play and calling for an FBI investigation into his November death.

Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower, was found dead in his San Francisco apartment in November 2024, with the initial ruling of suicide now under scrutiny.
Balaji's mother, Poornima Ramarao, has alleged that her son's death was a homicide, claiming he had incriminating documents against OpenAI that went missing after his death.
OpenAI, in a public statement, described Balaji as a valued team member and expressed heartbreak over his loss but refrained from further comments, citing respect for his death.
The San Francisco Police Department has reopened the case as an active investigation, but Balaji's family continues to demand a full FBI inquiry, citing lapses in the initial investigation.
Prominent figures, including Elon Musk and Congressman Ro Khanna, have called for a transparent investigation following Ramarao's allegations of foul play and suppression of evidence.