What happened to Saketh? Inside the troubled final days of the Karnataka student in California

Heartbreaking details emerge about the emotional distress faced by 22-year-old Saketh Srinivasaiah, whose body was found near Lake Anza days after he went missing in the US.

Fresh and deeply emotional details are emerging about the final days of Saketh Srinivasaiah (22), a brilliant student from Karnataka who went missing in California and was later found dead. His roommate, Baneeth Singh, has shared disturbing insights into Saketh’s mental struggle and emotional breakdown in the days leading up to his disappearance.

According to Baneeth Singh, Saketh’s behavior changed drastically nearly two weeks before he went missing. In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, he revealed that Saketh was under immense mental stress and had stopped taking proper care of himself. He barely slept, avoided regular meals, and survived mostly on chips and cookies.

“I remember him saying how difficult life is for international students. For the last two weeks, he barely ate or slept properly,” Baneeth wrote, highlighting the intense emotional burden Saketh was carrying.

Also Read:Karnataka student missing in California: Massive search on at Lake Anza near UC Berkeley

A disturbing classroom incident

Sharing another incident that reflected Saketh’s mental state, Baneeth recalled how one day Saketh attended his college class wearing a red bathrobe. When questioned about it, Saketh reportedly said, “I have stopped caring. People can think whatever they want, I don’t mind anymore.” At the time, Baneeth thought Saketh was joking and did not realize the seriousness of his emotional distress.

An outstanding academic journey

Originally from Karnataka, Saketh completed his schooling at Sri Vani Education Centre in Bengaluru. He later earned his undergraduate degree from IIT Madras and moved to the United States for higher studies, enrolling at the University of California, Berkeley.

A gifted researcher, Saketh was among six scientists who secured a patent for a Hyperloop cooling system, marking him as a rising talent in advanced engineering research.

Disappearance and tragic discovery

Saketh went missing on February 9. After days of intense search, his body was found near Lake Anza on February 14. The Indian Consulate in San Francisco confirmed the development and stated that assistance is being extended to the family to bring his mortal remains back to India.