American fitness influencer drowns in Samut Prakan

A 32-year-old American fitness influencer drowned on Tuesday evening after he jumped into a lake at a housing estate in Samut Prakan province, where police also found he had vandalised his rented luxury house.

The man reportedly became frenzied when he arrived in a vehicle in front of the estate in Bang Phli district, said Pol Col Veeraphong Roobsuay, deputy superintendent of investigation at the Bang Phli police station.

He was identified as Connor Michael Murphy, a Texas-born fitness influencer and bodybuilder. A YouTuber with more than 2.3 million followers, he was known for over-the-top stunts.

Murphy was also well known in the “looksmaxxing” community, made up of young men who go to extreme lengths to transform their physical appearance. In Murphy’s case it was a jawline that attracted attention after it underwent a radical change over a short time. (Story continues below)

Connor Murphy, a native of Austin, Texas, was known for his fitness videos and over-the-top stunts. (Photo: Instagram)

Disturbing behaviour

Witnesses, including a security guard and an employee at the housing estate, which was not named, recounted disturbing behaviour prior to the man’s frenzied dash into the water.

The guard told police that Murphy had returned to the neighbourhood in a hired vehicle. He reportedly tried to give the driver 1,000 baht, but the driver refused to accept the money after noticing his unusual behaviour.

The man then approached a resident’s passing car and knocked on the window, asking for a ride into the estate. The guard said he shouted to the driver not to pick him up.

The man then became agitated, the guard said. He shouted loudly, rolled around on the pavement and raised his hands as if praying.

When police officers arrived, Murphy suddenly ran and jumped into the lake, prompting police to request backup and rescue personnel as the situation escalated.

A video recorded by the estate employee showed the American behaving erratically for unknown reasons. Murphy continued swimming until he appeared exhausted before disappearing beneath the water.

As rescuers had not arrived, no one dared enter the lake to help because it was more than 10 metres deep. Rescue divers searched for about 30 minutes before recovering his body about 20 metres from the shore.

His body showed no signs of assault, police said, and was sent to Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital for an autopsy.

Police investigating inside his rented house backing onto the lake found black and yellowish paint splashed throughout the property, including onto electrical appliances.

Murphy’s passing has attracted a lot of attention in the fitness and bodybuilding community, with many acknowledging his outsize personality and influence. On Instagram, a friend with the handle @jonskywalker wrote:

“Regardless of what anyone online says or even the character your controversial content may have portrayed you to be, I will always remember you as the young kid who came up in this industry at the same time as me; thrown into a toxic industry and into the unforgiving spotlight of social media with no guidance and no mentor.”

Homeowner horrified

The homeowner, identified as Ms View, was devastated after seeing the condition of the house, saying she cherished the lakeside residence that was valued at around 22 million baht.

The house had been rented out for 35,000 baht a month, with the tenants — Mr Murphy and his 22-year-old girlfriend — occupying the house for only three months, Ms View said.

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

Murphy’s girlfriend, identified only as Bee, said the damage inside the house occurred overnight while she was asleep in her room, while he remained awake.

Ms Bee said they had been together for about three years but had spent much of that time living apart due to relationship difficulties. They had resumed living together less than three months ago.

The deceased had appeared completely normal before the incident, his girlfriend said, and he had never shown similar behaviour or experienced any known mental health problems.

Regarding possible drug use, she said she had never seen him use drugs while they were living together.

Investigators later searched the deceased’s vehicle and found two unused syringes and several unidentified white pills inside the man’s waist bag.

Police said the initial examination found only abrasions sustained from him rolling on the road. Toxicology tests for drugs will be conducted.

Investigators were also gathering evidence and would notify the US Embassy in Thailand, Bang Phli police said.

Rescue divers work to retrieve the body of the American national who jumped into the lake inside a housing estate before drowning in Samut Prakan on Tuesday evening.