Missing 20 year old Arnav Singh found dead in San Jose
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Diya TV) — A 20-year-old Indian-origin man who went missing near San Jose State University was found dead three days later, according to authorities in California.
The San José Police Department said officers responded around 1:14 p.m. on May 8 to a death investigation in the 700 block of Phelan Avenue in San Jose. Authorities later identified the man as Arnav Singh.
Police said officers from the university police department and the Santa Clara County Search and Rescue team located Singh’s body during a coordinated search operation. Officials said the San Jose Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team helped recover the body from the area.
Investigators said the preliminary investigation found no obvious signs of injury or foul play. Authorities have not yet released the official cause of death. The investigation remains active.
The Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed it is investigating the case.“The Office of the Medical Examiner is confirming a death we responded to on May 8, 2026, and investigating,” the office said in a statement. “No other information is currently available.”
Authorities said Singh’s parents last saw him on May 5 after dropping him near the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library in downtown San Jose. The library sits on the campus of San Jose State University at 150 E. San Fernando St.
University police said officers responded around 5:16 p.m. that day after meeting with Singh’s parents, who reported him missing. Investigators searched several locations across San Jose in the following days but could not find him at the time.
Capt. Jermaine Thomas, a spokesperson for the university police department, said Singh was not a current student at the university. Authorities have not explained how Singh reached the area near Phelan Avenue, which lies about 2 miles from the university campus.
The discovery of Singh’s body ended a multiday search effort involving several agencies in Santa Clara County. Officials said search and rescue personnel worked with local police and emergency response teams during the investigation. Authorities have not shared details about where exactly rescuers found the body or whether difficult terrain affected the recovery operation.
Police also have not released information about Singh’s activities between May 5 and May 8. The case has drawn attention from members of the Indian American community and residents in San Jose, many of whom followed updates about the missing person investigation online.
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Singh’s death. Officials said the medical examiner’s office will determine the exact cause and manner of death after completing its investigation. Police urged anyone with information related to the case to contact authorities.
Missing person investigations in California often involve multiple agencies, especially when searches cover large urban areas or locations near parks, waterways, or remote terrain. Search and rescue teams frequently assist local police departments during these operations.
The death of Arnav Singh has renewed attention on missing person cases involving young adults in the United States. Authorities continue to stress the importance of quick reporting and coordinated search efforts during investigations. Officials have not announced when the medical examiner expects to release additional findings.
The investigation remains ongoing.