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Sunil Tripathi, falsely linked on social media to Boston bombings, found dead

Brown student Sunil Tripathi was the target of inaccurate speculation as the suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings last week.

Charles Cooper Former Executive Editor / News
Charles Cooper was an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet.
Charles Cooper
Sunil Tripathi Facebook
Sunil Tripathi, the Brown University student falsely identified by people posting on Reddit and Twitter as a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, is dead.

The 22-year-old's body was recovered from the waters around India Point Park in Rhode Island. In a post on Facebook, Tripathi's family confirmed Tripathi's death and offered the following note:

As we carry indescribable grief, we also feel incredible gratitude. To each one of you-from our hometown to many distant lands-we extend our thanks for the words of encouragement, for your thoughts, for your hands, for your prayers, and for the love you have so generously shared.

The cause of death is not yet known.

Shortly after the bombings, people posting on Twitter and Reddit inaccurately speculated about Tripathi's possible involvement.

Tripathi had been missing prior to last week's Boston terror attack. He was last seen March 15.