Looksmaxxing influencer was 'injecting melted down gold jewellery before he went crazy' and drowned in Thailand - as his Aussie mate reveals he was planning to fake his death

By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA and LILLIAN GISSEN, US DEPUTY LIFESTYLE EDITOR Published: 16:04, 12 July 2026 | Updated: 16:04, 12 July 2026 An Australian 'looksmaxxer' has claimed late fitness influencer Connor Murphy was 'injecting gold' shortly before his death in Thailand. Murphy, also a 'looksmaxxer', drowned after jumping in a lake in an attempt to flee police on Tuesday, July 7. Police were called to his apartment in Bang Phli early that morning after neighbours heard a man screaming. When law enforcement arrived, the American YouTuber fled the scene and jumped into a nearby eight-foot-deep lake. He reportedly stayed in the water for 'several hours' and he 'was seen struggling to stay afloat before vanishing under the surface'. His body was later recovered by divers. Australian 'looksmaxxing' influencer Androgenic, whose real name is Ronan, has since shared several posts in memorial to his close friend. However, he also mentioned several disturbing behaviours Murphy displayed when he visited him in Thailand in May. Androgenic (above) from Australia claimed late 'looksmaxxer' Connor Murphy from the US was injecting gold before his death Murphy (above) drowned after jumping in a lake in Thailand while attempting to flee police last Tuesday, July 7 The most worrying was the American's 'fixation on gold', which he believed would help him 'tap into higher levels of consciousness'. Androgenic claimed Murphy was 'melting gold jewellery and injecting it'.  'A few weeks later he started the experiment, he was injecting gold… He was just crazy. He was covered in discolouration from gold poisoning,' Androgenic said. 'He ended up covered in his own blood, running around the neighbourhood screaming, and then the police were called, and then the police chased him down, he ran into the lake, tried to escape and we know what happened. Rest in Peace.' Androgenic later claimed Murphy had been planning to 'fake his death' just days before news of his actual death surfaced.  'The spookiest part about Conor Murphy's death is that just four days before he actually died, he was actually planning to fake his death,' Androgenic said. 'It was for a major documentary that a few of us starred in and that's why when the news first broke out, I thought it was part of the plan. 'I thought it was fake but the more I looked into it, it became clear that it was real.' Androgenic had visited Murphy (above) in May and said he was 'just crazy' Androgenic added Murphy was 'so deeply misunderstood' and had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.  'I miss him deeply, and I wish he didn't do that obviously,' Androgenic said. 'At the end of the day, I f***ing love Connor and I hope he's living in some blissful afterlife.'  Police Captain Weeraphong Rupsuay told The Sun neighbours had heard Murphy mumbling prayers and shouting at his girlfriend shortly before his death. 'His apparent religious behaviour… may have been his personal beliefs,' he said. 'He suddenly became frantic without warning, despite never having displayed such behaviour before.' 'When we arrived, he became agitated with the officers and refused to let anyone approach him,' Police Lieutenant Colonel Santirat Ngernman added.  'He then suddenly jumped into the lake and started swimming. He swam around for some time before sinking.' Androgenic claimed Murphy (above) had talked about faking his death just four days before he drowned Officials said they found paint smeared across the walls and furniture and immense piles of trash in his home. They also discovered two unused syringes in his car. Murphy's remains will undergo port-mortem examination at a hospital outside Bangkok. Local authorities have not yet released his official cause of death.  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.