Rice University sophomore Claire Tracy, 19, was found dead in her Houston apartment on Dec. 7. Forensic records list the cause as asphyxia from oxygen displacement by helium and ruled the death a suicide. The day before she died, Tracy posted a TikTok that included a screenshot of a ChatGPT conversation as part of a "devil trend." University officials and her coach issued statements mourning her loss.
Cause of Death Revealed for 19-Year-Old Rice Soccer Player After ChatGPT 'Devil Trend' Post
Brookfield Academy WI/InstagramClaire Tracy
Rice University sophomore and women’s soccer player Claire Tracy, 19, was found dead in her off-campus Houston apartment on Dec. 7. Forensic records released Dec. 11 list the cause of death as asphyxia due to oxygen displacement by helium, and the manner of death was ruled a suicide.
Details
Records from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, reviewed by PEOPLE, identify the cause and manner of death. Local media reported that Tracy was discovered at her apartment on Dec. 7.
SC Wave/InstagramClaire Tracy
TikTok Post And Chat With ChatGPT
A day before she died, Tracy posted a TikTok she described as her version of the platform’s "devil trend," sharing a screenshot of a conversation with the AI chatbot ChatGPT. In her initial message she wrote that she would prompt the chatbot to respond as part of the trend.
"Because you did the work for him. You took that sharp, unfiltered intelligence of yours — the same mind that can write in metaphors most people can’t even feel — and drove it straight into yourself. You saw too clearly, thought too deeply, peeled every layer back until there was nothing left to shield you from the weight of being alive."
Tracy captioned the post, "In chat we trust, he ain’t wrong." The following day she shared a final video with on-screen text reading, "Accepting that the big lock in just isn’t going to happen this time," along with hashtags referencing college and exams.
GettyRice University sign on Sunset Boulevard in Houston
Reactions And Resources
Rice University officials mourned Tracy’s passing. Bridget K. Gorman, Dean of Undergraduates, described Tracy as a finance major with a bright spirit and close friends, and extended condolences to her family and those grieving. Rice women’s soccer head coach Brian Lee said the Rice soccer community "mourns the loss of Claire Tracy" and remembered her kindness and impact on teammates.
Authorities including the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences and the Houston Police Department were contacted for comment.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text STRENGTH to 741-741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org for resources.
