Yohanes Kidane, a 22-year-old software engineer who recently relocated to San Francisco to begin working at Netflix, was discovered dead in the San Francisco Bay near the Golden Gate Bridge.
This discovery left his family, friends, and the community in utter disbelief. As the community mourns his passing, details regarding his disappearance and tragic demise have emerged.
Netflix Engineer Yohanes Kidane Found Dead in San Francisco Bay
Yohanes Kidane, a native of Webster, New York, began a new chapter in his life when he relocated to San Francisco to join the well-known streaming behemoth Netflix. The recent Cornell University graduate had a bright future ahead of him. However, his voyage darkened on August 14, when he disappeared.
Kidane was last seen taking an Uber from his San Jose apartment NY Post reported. Just weeks into his new position, his sudden disappearance sent shock waves through his family and friends. As days turned into weeks with no sign of him, concerns mounted.
A passing boat discovered Kidane's severely decomposed remains floating in the waters northeast of the Golden Gate Bridge last week. The Coast Guard was notified, and the Marin County Sheriff's Office opened a fatality investigation.
The condition of Kidane's body, characterized as exhibiting "advanced decomposition, prolonged exposure to the aquatic environment, and significant depredation," was initially unidentifiable.
The lack of identification of his person exacerbated the difficulty of identifying him. The coroner did not positively identify the remains as belonging to Yohannes Kidane until Thursday. The coroner determined that blunt impact injuries and drowning contributed to his death, and the constable confirmed that Kidane had committed suicide.
The enigma of Kidane's disappearance began when his wallet, cellphone, and backpack were discovered near the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center, a stark indication that something was amiss.
According to Daily Mail, the investigation of his phone's photo data revealed that he spent most of the night he vanished at the bridge. Adding to the calamity, Netflix had only employed Kidane for two weeks before his disappearance.
His family and friends launched an intensive search effort, fueled by the agony of his reported encounter with a rideshare driver. Two days before his disappearance, Kidane confided to a friend that he had an unsettling encounter in a ride-sharing vehicle.
He revealed that the driver took him on a circuitous route to his residence, insisting on passing through Oakland. This disturbing encounter discouraged Kidane from using ride-sharing services alone in the future.
GoFundMe and Search Task Force Emerge in Efforts to Find Yohanes Kidane
In their unrelenting quest for answers, Kidane's loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign, which received community support and raised more than $100,000. In addition, a dedicated search task force was formed to locate him unharmed.
Mehret Hana Beyene, the mother of Kidane, appealed with KTVU last month for her son's safe return, stating, "We want to bring him home. I require my firstborn. I require my firstborn. He is a decent man with a promising future devoted to his family."
Per The Sun, the discovery of Yohanes Kidane's body has left a profound absence in those who knew him and has raised awareness about the importance of mental health and the difficulties associated with ride-sharing services. As his loved ones mourn his tragic loss, they recall him as a young man with a bright future whose life was cut short.
