American fitness influencer and YouTuber Connor Murphy, known for his bodybuilding videos, was found dead in a lake in Thailand on Tuesday, Thai police confirmed. The 32-year-old Texas native was pulled from the lake behind his rented house in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, at 3pm local time.
Incident Details
According to Thairath News, Bang Phli police station deputy investigator Weerapong Rupsuay received a report of an American man acting erratically before his body was discovered by divers. Divers found his body about 20 meters from the lake’s edge after a 30-minute search. An autopsy will be conducted at Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodin Hospital.
An unnamed witness told Thairath News that Murphy was seen “experiencing a psychotic episode” before he ran into the village lake. It is believed Murphy became agitated after an encounter with a village security guard, during which he was described as “behaving abnormally.” The security guard reported that Murphy shouted and began rolling on the road before making gestures of praying to God.
Investigation Findings
Investigators searched Murphy’s rented house and car, finding two unused syringes on the driver’s seat and unspecified white pills. It was also reported that Murphy vandalised the inside of the house with paint and damaged furniture, as seen in photos published by the Thai news outlet. The rental, described by the owner as a “beautiful and cherished” lake house worth 22 million Baht ($950,000), was rented to Murphy for 35,000 Baht ($1,500) a month.
Girlfriend's Statement
Murphy’s girlfriend, speaking to Thairath News under a pseudonym, said they had been dating for three years but only lived together for three months before his death. She claimed she never witnessed unusual behaviour from him and never saw him use illicit drugs.
Social Media Reaction
Fans flooded Murphy’s most recent Instagram post, shared at the weekend, with messages of heartbreak and memories. Murphy rose to fame during YouTube’s fitness boom after posting a body transformation video in 2016. His workout content attracted tens of thousands of views, growing his YouTube channel to over two million subscribers. His Instagram also has a large following, featuring motivational posts, training clips, and fitness lifestyle content.
Career and Personal Shift
In 2016, Murphy competed in the NPC Dallas Europa Games Men’s Physique competition, finishing third. Throughout 2020 and 2021, longtime followers noticed a significant shift in his content as he focused on spirituality, meditation, prolonged fasting, personal awakening experiences, and psychedelic use.
His family has yet to confirm his death.
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