NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Delray Beach, FL, March 14, 2026: A 46-year-old man from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, identified in community reports as Ruben Benjamin, was found dead at his residence in Delray Beach, Florida, prompting members of the local Malayali community to mobilize support for the repatriation of his body to India.
At the time of publication, details about the death have not yet been confirmed through an official statement from local authorities, and the circumstances surrounding the case remain limited.
Community organizations in the United States frequently help coordinate such efforts in cases where families face financial hardship, as transporting human remains internationally can cost several thousand dollars.
Malayali community members in South Florida say Benjamin had been unreachable for approximately two days before police conducted a welfare check at his residence and discovered the body.
Community members also report that Benjamin had been working in the United States on an H-1B visa, a temporary work visa commonly used by skilled professionals.
According to those assisting the family, Benjamin’s body is currently being held at a local mortuary while arrangements are made for repatriation to India.
The Navakerala Malayali Association has begun organizing financial support to help cover the costs of transporting the body back to Kerala, citing the family’s financial difficulties.
As of now, no official statement has been issued by Delray Beach Police or the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner confirming the identity of the deceased or the cause of death.
In the meantime, Malayali organizations in South Florida are working with volunteers and the family in Kerala to facilitate the necessary paperwork and fundraising required to return Benjamin’s remains to his hometown in Thiruvananthapuram.
1 comment
Reading this breaks my heart.
Ruben and I shared a journey from our early days at Technopark in Trivandrum to finding our footing in the US. He made the journey to America alone, but South Florida truly became his hometown. He loved the beaches there and weathered every storm with resilience.
Beyond being a brilliant programmer and mentor who changed the trajectory of my life, he was a beautiful singer and a deeply generous friend.
Thank you to the Navakerala Malayali Association and the South Florida community for working so hard to bring him home. He is so greatly missed.