Sinedu Tadesse was born on September 25, 1975, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She hailed from a relatively affluent family; her father served as an administrator for several government schools. However, her early life was marred by political turmoil. During the Red Terror in 1977, her father was imprisoned without trial for two years, leaving the family in a precarious situation. Her mother worked as a nurse to support the family during this challenging period. Despite these hardships, Sinedu excelled academically, attending a Catholic school and later the prestigious International Community School, where she graduated as valedictorian. Her academic prowess earned her a full scholarship to Harvard University, where she pursued a biology major on a pre-med track. ​

At Harvard, Sinedu maintained a B average, which, while respectable, was insufficient for admission to Harvard Medical School. She struggled to form social connections, often isolating herself from peers and even family members residing nearby. Her loneliness became so profound that she sent letters to strangers she found in the phone book, pleading for friendship. One such letter read, "I am desperate. As far as I can remember, my life has been hellish. Year after year, I become lonelier and lonelier. I am like a person who can’t swim, choking in a river."

On May 28, 1995, in their shared dormitory at Dunster House, Harvard University, Sinedu Tadesse fatally stabbed her roommate, Trang Phuong Ho, 45 times with a hunting knife. Trang, a Vietnamese-American student and fellow junior, was asleep at the time of the attack. A friend of Trang's, Thao Nguyen, who was visiting to assist with moving out, was also attacked and injured during the incident. After the assault, Sinedu hanged herself in the bathroom. ​

Investigations revealed that Sinedu had been experiencing severe emotional distress. Her diaries detailed feelings of isolation, inadequacy, and a deteriorating mental state. The immediate trigger appeared to be Trang's decision to room with other students for their senior year, which Sinedu perceived as a profound rejection. In the weeks leading up to the murder, Sinedu exhibited alarming behavior, including sending an anonymous letter with her photograph to The Harvard Crimson, stating, "Keep this picture. There will soon be a very juicy story involving this woman."

The tragedy prompted scrutiny of Harvard's mental health services and support systems. Critics argued that the university failed to recognize and address the warning signs of Sinedu's mental health decline. In response, Harvard implemented several changes, including increasing counseling staff, enhancing tutor training, and improving outreach programs to better support students' mental well-being. ​