Psychedelic doctor kills teenage son and self after custody battle
A prominent psychedelic therapy doctor in Utah killed his son before killing himself, police said.
Dr Parth Gandhi, 49, a neuropsychologist and psychedelic therapist practicing in Salt Lake City was found dead alongside his 16-year-old son Om Gandhi on the morning of Saturday, May 13.
The father and son were found by a community member at an office building, who called 911 around 11.14am, the Salt Lake City Police Department said.
The office building where the father and son were found houses Salt Lake City Psychedelic Therapy and Research (SCPTR), a clinic founded and directed by Dr Gandhi.
‘Our detectives right now, they’re still developing more information trying to figure out, trying to answer the question of what may have motivated him to do this,’ Salt Lake City Police spokesperson Brent Weisberg told local station KSL-TV on Monday.
Dr Gandhi’s profile on his practice’s website described him as a ‘highly sought-after consulting clinician since 2003 working with individuals and families in distress, from Boston to Alaska.’
He specialized in ketamine-assisted therapy, but also worked with other psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin. His profile describes him as a ‘a firm advocate for psychedelics and mind expansion through safe personal journies [sic] guided by trained facilitators.’
Dr Gandhi also promoted the clinic’s program called Summit Ketamine Therapy, which claims to be the first psychedelic science and research program in Utah. According to the practice’s website, the program is ‘proven to be up to 85% successful in the reduction of symptoms of depression and anxiety.’
However, court documents and statements from his family members depict a years-long history of violence and struggle for custody with his ex-wife, Leah Moses.
Court records show that Moses filed for divorce in 2009. Their divorce was finalized in 2014, after which Moses was given full custody of their children.
In a statement released by the National Safe Parents Organization, Moses said her ex-husband was abusive towards his family.
Court records show that Moses filed protective orders against Gandhi twice, in 2009 and 2011. She also serves on the board of directors for the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition.
But Gandhi continued to sue for full custody. In January 2022, he was awarded full custody of Om.
‘My son Om’s death was preventable,’ Moses wrote. ‘My son’s father persuaded everyone that I was the problem, when in fact I was just trying to protect my child.’
Moses has since started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money in Om’s memory. The campaign has raised over $66,000 since it began, which Moses said would go to the Safe Harbor Foundation and lobbying the Utah government to pass Kayden’s Law, also known as the ‘Keep Children Safe from Family Violence Act.’
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