The death of an Arizona State University student whose body was discovered below the South Rim of the Grand Canyon nearly two weeks after he went missing has been ruled a suicide, newly released autopsy findings show.
Sandarsh Krishna, 26, died of multiple blunt force injuries after falling from a height, the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office determined in an autopsy report obtained by The Arizona Republic.
Krishna, a master’s student studying computer science at Arizona State University, disappeared during a spur-of-the-moment visit to Grand Canyon National Park just weeks before he was expected to graduate.
His family said he had already lined up a job after graduation and intended to travel on to Las Vegas.
The medical examiner’s report said Krishna checked into Bright Angel Lodge on April 27, the same day he was last known to be alive.
Relatives reported him missing on April 28 after they could not get in touch with him, telling authorities they feared he may have been suicidal.
That same day, a park visitor discovered Krishna’s backpack on the South Rim near the area where his body would later be found, according to the report.
National Park Service personnel recovered Krishna’s body on May 9 below the South Rim near Verkamp’s Visitor Center, then transferred it to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Sandarsh Krishna, 26, a master’s student in computer science at Arizona State University, was found dead below the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on May 9 after disappearing nearly two weeks earlier
Newly released autopsy findings ruled Krishna’s death a suicide
The National Park Service later confirmed his identity and said the investigation would remain open pending the autopsy findings.
Before his body was found, relatives publicly appealed for help and released what they described as a more detailed timeline of his final known movements.
According to 12News, the family said Krishna was confirmed to be in his room at Bright Angel Lodge at about 11pm on April 27 and investigators believed he disappeared around 11.30pm.
‘This information may seem small, but timelines matter,’ his sister-in-law, Dr Pooja Shivananjappa, told the station.
‘Even narrowing the window by minutes can help search teams and investigators better understand what happened.’
The family also offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the identification of the person who found and turned in Krishna’s backpack.
Authorities emphasized the individual was not considered a suspect or believed to be connected to the disappearance, but said they hoped the person could provide additional information about where and how the backpack was found, according to 12News.
Krishna had travelled to Grand Canyon National Park on a last-minute trip just weeks before he was due to graduate and begin a new job, his family said
The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office determining he died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a fall from a height
When Krishna was initially reported missing, the National Park Service said he was last seen along the Rim Trail near Hermit Road, between Bright Angel Lodge and Mohave Point, sometime between the afternoon of April 27 and the early hours of April 28.
Officials said there was no known vehicle associated with him, leading investigators to believe he may have travelled around the park by rideshare or taxi.
He was described as 5ft 10ins tall with black hair and brown eyes and was believed to be wearing athletic clothing.
The National Park Service has not released any further information since the medical examiner completed its investigation.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the US and Canada, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit 988lifeline.org for free, confidential support 24 hours a day. If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local emergency services.
