A 19-year-old Rice University sophomore, Claire Tracy, was found dead in her off-campus Houston apartment on December 7. Authorities later ruled her death a suicide, citing asphyxia caused by helium, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
In the days before her death, Claire — a finance major and soccer player originally from Wisconsin — shared several troubling TikTok posts. One referenced her participation in a so-called “devil trend,” in which she posted screenshots of a conversation with an AI chatbot after prompting it to give a brutally honest response about her life. She captioned the post, “In chat we trust, he ain’t wrong.”
Claire had also described herself online as a “popular loner” and shared posts suggesting emotional exhaustion and isolation.
Rice University confirmed her death and shared that she had joined the school in 2023. The Rice women’s soccer team paid tribute, with head coach Brian Lee honoring her kindness and impact on teammates.
The university community continues to mourn her loss.