OpenAI whistleblower’s mother shares image from day of his death, alleges murder

The mother of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI employee-turned-whistleblower who was found dead in his San Francisco apartment in November 2024, has shared a CCTV image from the day of his death. The image, taken from surveillance footage inside his apartment building, shows Balaji standing near an elevator holding a brown paper bag believed to be his dinner, according to his mother.

The footage was reportedly captured at the liaison office of his apartment complex. His mother, Poornima Rao, has used this as evidence to dispute the official ruling of suicide, arguing that her son did not exhibit signs of distress before his death.

Balaji had publicly raised ethical concerns about OpenAI’s AI practices shortly before his death, making him a prominent whistleblower.

While initial investigations by the San Francisco authorities concluded that he had died by suicide, his family has repeatedly contested this, demanding an FBI probe. Despite a re-opened investigation and a 13-page report from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), which reaffirmed the suicide ruling, Balaji’s family has rejected these findings.

Rao has raised concerns over the toxicology report, claiming discrepancies in the levels of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a substance that can act as a sedative when combined with alcohol. She alleges that her son’s autopsy findings suggest he could have been drugged, which may have incapacitated him before his death.

Rao continues to assert that her son’s death was a “murder conspiracy executed with long-term planning.” She claims that crucial CCTV cameras in Balaji’s flat garage, a lift, and surrounding areas were not functioning at the time of his death, raising further suspicions.

Earlier this year, she accused OpenAI of being involved in his death, suggesting that Balaji possessed critical documents that could expose wrongdoing within the AI company. In an interview with commentator Tucker Carlson, she stated: “My son had documents against OpenAI. They attacked him and killed him. Some documents were even missing after his death. My son celebrated his birthday a day before he died. What more do we need to prove that he was in a happy mood?”

She further accused OpenAI of suppressing the investigation and silencing potential witnesses.

The case has drawn widespread attention, with influential figures, including tech billionaire Elon Musk, calling the situation “extremely concerning.” While OpenAI has yet to respond to the allegations, the controversy surrounding Balaji’s death continues to fuel calls for a deeper investigation.