YouTube ex-CEO Susan Wojcicki’s son Marco Troper found dead in UC Berkeley hostel, family suspects ‘drug overdose’

Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki’s 19-year-old son has been found dead at his hostel at the University of California (UC), Berkeley, according to his grandmother.

Marco Troper, who lived at the Clark Kerr Campus, a student housing complex, was found unresponsive around 4:23 pm (local time) on February 13 (Tuesday), NBC News quoted UC Berkeley spokesperson Janet Gilmore as saying.

Gilmore said the Berkeley Fire Department notified the University of California Police Department that it was “attempting life-saving measures” on Marco Troper at his hostel.

The teenager was pronounced dead by the time the campus police arrived at the scene. According to Gilmore, no signs of foul play were suspected and an investigation into his death was on.

The victim’s grandmother, Esther Wojcicki, confirmed his death and identity in her Facebook post on February 14 (Wednesday).

While Marco Troper’s death was being determined, Esther Wojcicki told SF Gate News that he died from a drug overdose. She said the family was awaiting the results of a toxicology report.

“He ingested a drug and we don’t know what was in it. One thing we do know, it was a drug. We want to prevent this from happening to any other family,” she told SF Gate.

In her Facebook post, Esther Wojcicki wrote, “My beloved grandson Marco Troper, age 19 passed away yesterday. Our family is devastated beyond comprehension.”

She described her grandson as “the most kind, loving, smart, fun and beautiful human being”.

Esther Wojcicki said Marco Troper was “just getting started” in his second semester of freshman year at UC Berkeley, where he was majoring in math “and was truly loving it”.

She said her grandson was “thriving academically” and had a “strong community of friends”, both from his hostel and his fraternity.

“At home, he would tell us endless stories of his life and friends at Berkeley,” she added.