Thai authorities ordered an autopsy after rescue divers recovered the 32-year-old American from a lake south of Bangkok.
SAMUT PRAKAN, Thailand — American fitness influencer Connor Murphy died in an apparent drowning after entering a lake near a rental property in Thailand, according to local authorities and multiple news reports. He was 32.
The incident occurred July 7 in Samut Prakan province, just south of Bangkok. Police had responded to reports that a man was behaving erratically at a luxury rental property before Murphy ran toward a nearby lake and entered the water, Thai media reported.
Witnesses told authorities that Murphy swam for several minutes before appearing exhausted and disappearing beneath the surface. Rescue divers searched the lake and recovered his body about 20 meters, or roughly 65 feet, from shore.
Authorities reported finding no visible signs that Murphy had been assaulted. His body was sent for an autopsy, and officials had not publicly released a final cause and manner of death as of Sunday. The circumstances leading to his behavior before entering the lake remained under investigation.
Police also searched a vehicle associated with Murphy and reportedly found two unused syringes and several unidentified white pills inside a bag. Authorities had not said whether those items played any role in his death, and toxicology findings had not been announced.
Murphy had been staying at the rental property with his 22-year-old girlfriend for about three months, according to reports. Investigators found areas of the property damaged and marked with black and yellow paint. His girlfriend reportedly told police that the behavior was unusual and that she did not know what caused it.
No allegation of criminal wrongdoing had been announced in connection with Murphy’s death. Samut Prakan authorities continued gathering witness accounts and reviewing evidence while awaiting the medical examination results.
Murphy built a large online audience through bodybuilding videos, public stunts and fitness-related content. His YouTube channel and Instagram account had a combined following of more than 2.7 million, according to reports published after his death.
He also became associated with the online “looksmaxxing” community, whose followers focus on changing or improving their physical appearance. Murphy’s later posts expanded beyond traditional fitness content and included videos about personal development and spirituality.
Friends and other online creators posted tributes after reports of his death emerged. Murphy appeared to make his final public social media update July 3, when he posted a video filmed inside a home.
Thai authorities had not released the autopsy or toxicology results as of July 12. The investigation remained open, and officials had not announced evidence that another person caused Murphy’s death.
Author note: Last updated July 12, 2026.