Caltech death confirmed as suicide
By Joe Piasecki 05/21/2009
The death of a Caltech student whose body was found Sunday afternoon on campus was a result of suicide by helium asphyxiation, Lt. Fred Corral of the LA County Department of Coroner’s Investigations Division confirmed Tuesday.
The student, a 19-year-old Asian male, had been reported missing Friday to Pasadena police, said police spokeswoman Janet Pope Givens. He was later found dead by Caltech security officers on the roof of a campus building.
A note, helium tank and plastic bag were recovered at the scene, sources said.
The student was a junior studying computer science. His death is the fifth by suicide at Caltech in 20 years, including one in 2007, according to a statement emailed to the Weekly by Caltech Media Relations Director Jon Weiner.
“While the whole campus grieves over his loss, we will be working with student leaders in finding a suitable way to remember the student and his achievements on campus,” wrote Weiner.
The school offers year-round counseling services for its students and faculty and its Web site discusses depression and suicide prevention at length. View that Web page at counseling.caltech.edu/Suicid-Depress.html. Caltech students in need of grief assistance should call (626) 395-8331.
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Comments
He was 20, not 19! He would have been 21 on May 30th.
Another correction: Brian was bi-racial: Caucasian and Asian. I know our society and likely journalists need to put these labels on people, but if he must have an ethnic label, this is the complete truth regarding his racial origins. Also, pls refer to the web site for the Association for the Prevention of Suicide regarding media distortions in reporting death by suicide.
I feel we have a responsibility, esp. to young people, in the way we report these tragic deaths. I pray that any reporter will avail themselves of the information on this website. Click on "Media" on the left.
Mr. Piasecki, pls note the mistakes you made in your facts about our son publicly in your newspaper. Perhaps you could follow up with an article about the responsible reporting of suicide after you avail yourself of the information on the website for the Association for the Prevention of Suicide. I pray there are no copycat situations. If I were you, that would haunt me to the end of my days. Do the right thing, Mr. Piasecki.
Yours,
Brian's grieving mother and father and siblings, who do not want this to happen to any other young person or their friends and family.
please take this article down
There are actually 5-6 suicides in Caltech in the past 5 years, 3 graduate students (one last week) and 3 undergraduate (the two reported here and one in 2007). The rate in 2009 is unbelievable, 3 in 3 months.
It's so sad the number of suicides around the US lately. In the area surrounding Cal State L.A. and East L.A. College in July 2009 alone, there were also 2 known suicides, both we self inflicted gun
shots, I only knew one of the victims. Is it the economy or the pursuit of happiness ?
My deepest sympathy to all of the Caltech community, especially Page House and his close friends. I can not imagine what his parents are going through. Please know that you are in my prayers.