Marshall Brain’s leaked email reveals details about his struggles before his suicide.
Marshall Brain, the founder of the renowned HowStuffWorks website, was found dead in his office at North Carolina State University (NC State) on November 20. He was 63. Police discovered his body after his wife requested a welfare check. His death certificate later confirmed suicide.
Brain’s death followed a period of professional turmoil. Hours before his death, he sent an email to about 30 friends and colleagues, detailing his struggles with NC State’s EthicsPoint system, a platform for reporting ethical concerns. Brain described a series of events stemming from a complaint he filed in August, which he said led to retaliation and his dismissal from the university.
“I witnessed wrongdoing on campus and tried to report it,” Brain wrote. “What came back was a sickening nuclear bomb of retaliation.”
Brain alleged his firing on October 29 was disguised as a “forced retirement” announcement scheduled for December 2025. A former student suggested Brain’s refusal to engage in workplace politics put him at odds with powerful figures within the university.
NC State has declined to comment on Brain’s allegations or his death. His legacy as the creator of HowStuffWorks, a platform that demystified complex topics for millions, remains significant.