American fitness influencer Connor Michael Murphy, 31, drowned in a lake near Bangkok after a meltdown at a luxury housing estate in Thailand. Police believe he was under the influence of drugs or steroids during the incident.
Rampage at Lake Wood Village
Murphy, known online as a 'Giga Chad,' allegedly yelled frenzied prayers as he trashed his rental home in Lake Wood Village near Bangkok in the early hours of July 7. Neighbours called police after hearing him screaming and destroying property before he bolted outside. Witnesses saw him rolling on the street with his hands clasped in prayer, mumbling incoherently.
When police arrived, Murphy fled toward a nearby golf course, where officers found him swimming naked in an 8ft-deep lake. Authorities monitored him for hours but refused to approach, fearing he would drag them underwater.
Drowning and discovery
Witnesses later saw Murphy struggling to stay afloat before vanishing beneath the surface. Divers launched a search-and-rescue operation at 2 pm local time and located his body in the middle of the lake after 30 minutes. He is believed to have drowned due to leg cramps.
Police recovered two unused syringes and a white pill from his bag and car. Police Captain Weeraphong Rupsuay of Bang Phli district station said: 'The body is currently undergoing an autopsy, and all evidence, including the white pills found inside the car, has been sent to a laboratory for examination. We are awaiting the autopsy results to determine whether narcotics or alcohol were present in his system.'
Property damage and rental history
Murphy's rental home was found in disarray, with black paint splashed across the walls, piles of rubbish in the kitchen, and furniture stained with brown and yellow paint. The owner, who had rented the property to Murphy for 35,000 baht per month, said: 'The sofas and everything inside were ruined. I loved this lakeside home and took great pride in it. It's worth around 22 million baht, including the furniture and fittings, and now it's been destroyed.'
Murphy had been living in Thailand for at least two years, renewing his visa continuously. His 22-year-old Thai girlfriend said he had invited her shopping before the rampage, but she declined. She noted a similar episode two years ago and stated: 'I often tried to stop him from doing certain things, and that led us to living separately. As far as I know, he ran an online food supplement and fitness business with a friend.'
Online persona and content
Murphy managed multiple YouTube channels—including Connosis, Connor Murphy Talks, and Connor Murphy Official—with a combined 2.4 million subscribers. He posted fitness advice, vlogs, pranks, and clips of himself flirting with women, and also ran an OnlyFans account. His content shifted to more 'psychedelic' themes in 2020, focusing on meditation and spirituality. His last video, posted July 1, was titled 'RIP Elon Muscular,' showing him dribbling a ball while claiming to absorb Elon Musk's spirit.
