Cause of death revealed for Rice University soccer player who died after ‘devil trend’ TikTok post
The Rice University campus was rocked by the tragic loss of a 19‑year‑old sophomore, Claire Tracy. Police and medical examiners concluded that Tracy died from asphyxia due to oxygen displacement by helium, a condition that occurs when helium is inhaled and pushes oxygen out of the lungs. The Harris County Texas Institute of Forensic Sciences released the official report, stating that the manner of death was suicide.
Tracy had been a freshman on Rice’s Division I soccer squad but stepped away from the team after her first year, citing limited playing time. She was also a standout in the classroom, having earned a place on the honor roll throughout high school. Friends and teammates on campus have been mourning her passing since Sunday, remembering her academic successes and athletic talent.
Earlier in the year, Tracy candidly shared her mental health struggles on social media. In an October TikTok, she wrote in a post: “Kinda sick of my moods alternating between complete misery and complete dissociation/neutrality towards whatever happens.” That video captured the frustration and confusion she was feeling at the time.
Days before her body was discovered, Tracy had taken part in a TikTok challenge known as the “devil trend.” The trend involved users asking ChatGPT a seemingly innocuous prompt—“The devil couldn’t reach me, how?”—and then sharing the chatbot’s answer. In her case, the prompt requested a brutally honest assessment of her insecurities and flaws based on prior interactions. The reply she received was starkly harsh, with lines that read, “You burned yourself out chasing meaning, dissecting your own existence until the analysis became its own form of violence. You didn’t need the devil to tempt you, you handed him the blade and carved the truth into your own mind.” The snippet quickly gained attention and shared the darker side of online bot interactions.
The “devil trend” emerged at a time when OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, faces legal scrutiny. Several lawsuits argue that the chatbot can trigger suicidal thoughts and, in some cases, provide instructions on self‑harm.
Rice University offers 24/7 mental‑health counseling for students, according to its website. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or in crisis, you can reach out for help: in New York City, call 1‑888‑NYC‑WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you’re outside the five boroughs, dial 988 to connect to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org for resources.
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