US fitness influencer Connor Murphy, 32, drowns in lake in Thailand, rented house found vandalised

American fitness influencer Connor Murphy was found dead after he jumped into a lake at a housing estate in Samut Prakan, Thailand.

The 32-year-old apparently drowned on the evening of Jul. 7, Bangkok Post and Khaosod reported.

As an American fitness influencer, he had about 2.36 million YouTube subscribers.

He had reportedly been staying in Thailand on a visa and working remotely, selling fitness food supplements.

Murphy was well known in the “looksmaxxing” community, made up of young males who would go to extreme lengths to enhance their physical appearance.

Several fitness influencers, such as American bodybuilder Greg Doucette, paid respects to Murphy on social media.

Behaviour

According to witnesses, including a security guard and an employee at the estate, he apparently exhibited disturbing behaviour before jumping into the lake.

Murphy reportedly returned to the neighbourhood in a hired vehicle and attempted to give the driver 1,000 baht (S$38.60).

However, the driver purportedly refused as Murphy was behaving unusually.

Murphy then approached a resident’s passing car and allegedly knocked on the window, asking for a ride into the estate.

The security guard said he shouted to the driver not to pick him up.

Murphy reportedly became agitated and started shouting.

He also rolled around on the pavement and raised his hands as if he were praying.

Lake

When local police arrived, he apparently ran and jumped into the lake.

This prompted the police to request backup and rescue personnel.

In a video of the incident recorded by the guard, Murphy purportedly continued swimming until he appeared exhausted, before disappearing beneath the water.

No one apparently dared to enter the lake to help him, as the lake was reportedly more than 10m deep.

Rescue divers eventually showed up and searched for Murphy for about 30 minutes before recovering his body about 20m from the shore.

According to local police, his body showed no signs of assault, and he was sent to a local hospital for an autopsy.

House

Investigations revealed that his rented house had been splashed with black and yellow paint.

Electrical appliances were also doused in paint.

The homeowner, identified as View, was reportedly devastated after seeing the condition of the house.

She claimed that she cherished the lakeside residence and it was valued at around 22 million baht (S$849,154.68).

The house had been rented out for 35,000 baht (S$1,350.93) a month.

It was rented out to Murphy and his 22-year-old girlfriend, identified as Bee.

The couple apparently occupied the house for about three months.

View claimed she carefully selected the tenants and never expected to find the property so badly damaged, with furniture and home decorations ruined.

According to Bee, the damage to the house occurred overnight when she was asleep in her room and Murphy was awake.

Murphy had appeared completely normal before the incident, and he had apparently never shown similar behaviour or experienced any known mental health problems, she added.

She also claimed that she had never seen him use drugs when they lived together

The couple had reportedly been together for about three years, but spent much of that time living apart due to relationship difficulties.

They purportedly resumed living together less than three months ago.

Investigations

Investigators who searched Murphy’s vehicle found two unused syringes and several unidentified white pills inside his waist bag.

Preliminary examinations found only abrasions sustained from him rolling on the road.

Toxicology tests for drugs will be conducted.

Police have not announced a final cause of death beyond drowning.

Investigators were also gathering evidence and would notify the American embassy in Thailand.