'He Seemed Pretty Normal': OpenAI Whistleblower Suchir Balaji's Mother Shares Picture From Day Of His Death

Last Updated:March 12, 2025, 23:49 IST

Suchir Balaji's mother Poornima Rao alleged that the office of the chief medical examiner saw this video and still concluded that he was depressed and called his death a suicide

OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji's mother shared a purported CCTV grab of her son getting dinner on the day of his death. (Image: @RaoPoornima/X)

The mother of OpenAI whistleblower Suchir Balaji, who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26 last year, has shared a picture of him getting dinner on the day of his death.

Contrary to his parents’ claims, Suchir’s autopsy report, which was released earlier in February, ruled out any foul play and confirmed death by suicide. Flagging numerous inconsistencies, his parents had said they disagree with the report while continuing to conduct their own investigation.

Posting the picture on X on Wednesday, Poornima Rao claimed that it is a CCTV grab from the liaison office of the apartment building where he lived. “Suchir’s picture on the day of his death at 7.30 pm, getting dinner. This is from CCTV footage," she wrote.

Check her post here: https://x.com/raopoornima/status/1899867607043629098?s=46

She alleged that the office of the chief medical examiner (OCME) saw this video and still concluded that he was depressed and called his death a suicide. “Another cover by OCME: they stated to our attorney that GHB (date-rape drug) is endogenous (formed in dead bodies) three days after death. But, we found out that the level of endogenous GHB is less than 5,000 ng/L. A line in the autopsy report says that toxicology report will include GHB only if it is more than 50,000 ng/L. Combined with alcohol this is a sedative. With this combination he will be losing muscle control or possibly (become) unconscious. We are waiting for toxicologist to give a written report," she added.

Rao said Suchir’s death was ruled as suicide but they are conducting their own investigation based on reports from the OCME, toxicology, and CT scan. “Actually, we were only shown this video as a courtesy from the liaison office of the apartment where he (Suchir) used to stay, so we were only allowed to take a screenshot. At that moment, it was only him and he seemed pretty normal," she told CNN-News18.

Asked if she will be taking her case to DOGE chief Elon Musk, who had supported their campaign since Day 1, she said: “We’ll reach out to him once we have conclusive decision on the case, we are waiting for some more experts to give their opinion."

“We are building a case, we will reach out to the Trump Administration soon to take action against the chief medical examiner’s office. We will also go to Elon Musk and file a complaint with the North American Association of Medical Examiners," she added.

She further said Dr Karen Ziegler was the doctor who performed the autopsy, alleging that she failed to look through the CT scan and injuries on Suchir’s body. “Suchir’s cheek bones are broken, there is laceration on the tongue," she said, adding that they are also planning to file a complaint against David Sewell, executive director of OCME.

News world 'He Seemed Pretty Normal': OpenAI Whistleblower Suchir Balaji's Mother Shares Picture From Day Of His Death