What really happened to Sonam Kshatriya?

That’s the question haunting a New York family nearly six years after their beloved daughter — a bright, successful 27-year-old Columbia grad — was found dead in her Manhattan apartment. While police quickly ruled it a suicide, a growing mountain of evidence suggests something far more sinister may have occurred.

And it all started unraveling at the funeral home.

A Shocking Discovery After Death

On the morning of September 16, 2019, Sonam’s ex-boyfriend told authorities he had returned to her upscale apartment to walk their shared dog — and found her hanging in her walk-in closet by a bathrobe belt tied to a closet rod.

The medical examiner ruled it a suicide. But Sonam’s family was immediately suspicious. She had no history of mental illness and had everything to live for — a career in music publishing, a tight-knit family, and a future filled with promise.

Their fears deepened when the funeral director, tasked with preparing Sonam for cremation, noticed something alarming: extensive, unexplained bruising all over her body.

“He told us it was very troubling,” the family later wrote in a petition to the court. Acting on his instincts, the funeral director sent Sonam’s body back to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy — something that typically happens before cremation, not after.

The Autopsy That Didn’t Change Anything

Despite the new concerns, the medical examiner stuck to the original ruling: suicide.

But Sonam’s family wasn’t about to give up. They hired experts. They dug into timelines. And they filed court petitions demanding answers.

And what they found only deepened the mystery.

Blood Smears, Bruises, and a Disputed Timeline

According to court records obtained by PEOPLE, there were multiple red flags:

• Dried blood was found around Sonam’s nose — but oddly, none on her hands.
• The belt allegedly used in the hanging had smeared blood on it, suggesting someone else may have been holding her during the act.
• Experts argue that the blood smears indicate a third party’s involvement.

“That indicates someone was literally raising her,” the family’s attorney, Joseph Podraza, explained. “You can’t rule out the presence of another person.”

Sonam’s last known phone activity was just after midnight on Sunday, Sept. 15. But when she was found, she was still wearing the same clothes she had on Saturday. That raised more questions: Had she been dead for longer than anyone realized?

Her Ex-Boyfriend’s Strange Return

According to the family’s court filings, Sonam’s ex-boyfriend — who has not been publicly named or charged with any crime — still had partial access to her apartment to care for their dog. But two weeks before her death, building management restricted that access at Sonam’s explicit request.

Yet, on Friday the 13th of September, he reportedly showed up at her building unexpectedly, startling her. The next night, he texted her about watching a UFC fight at her apartment — he was a competitive Jiu Jitsu fighter.

He later told police he left her apartment at 7 a.m. on Sunday. Then he returned Monday morning and claimed to have discovered her body.

But if Sonam stopped using her phone early Sunday morning, and was never seen in different clothing after Saturday, her family believes she may have died far earlier than reported.

Court Denies Family’s Request, but the Fight Isn’t Over

In May 2024, a New York State Supreme Court judge rejected the family’s petition to have the cause of death changed — even though multiple experts argued the evidence strongly pointed to homicide.

In June, the family filed a notice of appeal. The case now sits before the New York State Appeals Court, awaiting a final decision.

“This is an important case,” says Podraza. “Medical examiners have enormous discretion, but when the evidence suggests a homicide staged as a suicide, we need to take that seriously.”

Until then, Sonam’s loved ones continue their fight — not just for answers, but for justice.