(L.A.) Arya Ghassemlou, 27, Died at a Residence

Case Number: 2026-07585

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 27-year-old male that occurred at his residence.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Arya Ghassemlou and listed his race/ethnicity as Middle Eastern or North African [sic].

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Sequelae of VATER Syndrome

Other Significant Condition: Acute and Chronic Polysubstance Use

RIP ARYA GHASSEMLOU ( May 10, 2026)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Sunday.

This is considered an accidental, i.e., unintentional, substance overdose.

VATER Syndrome is an older name for a group of birth defects that often appear together at birth, now more accurately called VACTERL association, involving possible problems with the spine bones, heart defects, an abnormal connection between the windpipe and food tube, kidney issues, and differences in the limbs such as missing or extra thumbs.

The combination and severity of defects differ from person to person, the condition usually arises randomly rather than being inherited, intelligence is typically unaffected, and modern surgical care allows many individuals to reach adulthood, though some continue to manage related issues like back pain or digestive and kidney complications.

We’ve seen only one other decedent’s record where VATER Syndrome is mentioned. It was a five-month-old baby girl in 2003. She died from natural causes.