California home linked to Theranos scientist’s death sells for $5 million

The home, where Ian Gibbons, the former chief scientist at Theranos, died by suicide in 2013, was purchased by his widow, Rochelle Gibbons, in May 2025 for $5 million. The sale occurred quietly, despite the property’s history.

Gibbons and his wife initially bought the three-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom house for $785,000 in 1990. The property, located at 831 La Mesa Drive, was listed for $4.65 million on April 21 and quickly attracted a buyer, closing the deal for $5 million – $350,000 above the asking price.

Rochelle Gibbons had recently completed renovations on the 3,074-square-foot home, which includes features like heated concrete floors, a modern kitchen, and a pool surrounded by landscaping.

Ian Gibbons, a biochemist with 60 US patents, joined Theranos in 2005 after being recommended by Channing Robertson. He soon discovered the company’s technology was not performing as advertised, a fact he shared with his wife. “Ian felt like he would lose his job if he told the truth,” Rochelle Gibbons told Vanity Fair. He was subpoenaed in 2013 to testify in a patent dispute and died a week later at age 67 after an apparent overdose.

Following his death, Theranos demanded the return of confidential materials and threatened legal action if Rochelle Gibbons spoke publicly about the company. She subsequently became a key source for investigative reporting on Theranos, and praised her late husband to CBS News, stating, “For me, he was as near to perfection, as a human could be.”

Ian Gibbons’ story was portrayed in the 2022 Hulu miniseries “The Dropout.” Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence and is expected to transition to a halfway house in Texas in 2027. A recent documentary, “You Can See Everything,” explores her and her partner, Billy Evans’ attempt to create a “Theranos 2.0” venture.