Danny Dias, the reality star best known for his appearance on season 13 of MTV’s Road Rules, has passed away at the age of 33.
There’s been no official word on Dias’ cause of death, but sources close to the situation say that his passing appears to have been drug related.
According to police reports, Dias was found dead in his Brooklyn apartment Monday morning, following a bizarre incident over the weekend.
Friends of the reality star say that he took hallucinogens – believed to be LSD and mushrooms – began to panic, and locked himself in his bedroom, ignoring friends’ pleas for him to emerge.
His friends left the apartment, assuming Dias simply wanted to be left alone after suffering a bad reaction to the drugs.
After nearly two days passed and there was still no word from Dias, the friends called police, who found Dias’ lifeless body in bed.
Drug overdoses caused by hallucinogens are virtually unheard of, so it’s believed that Dias either consumed a third substance his friends weren’t aware of, or engaged in some sort of fatal self-harm while under the influence.
The NYPD has reportedly launched a full investigation, but it may be weeks before we have any definitive answers.
After appearing on Road Rules in 2004, Dias returned to MTV for a season of The Gauntlet.
The Linden, New Jersey native quickly became a fan favorite on both series and befriended fellow cast mates Derrick Kosinski, Jodi Weatherton and Patrick Maloney
A Dias attended the Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey, where he majored in music education from 2001 to 2003.
He reportedly left college after receiving a call from MTV about his Road Rules audition tape.
Sadly, Dias is just the latest early 2000s MTV talent that we’ve lost prematurely in recent months.
In April, former Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County star Clay Adler committed suicide.
Prior to that Rob & Big star Christopher Boykin passed away at the age of 45.
Fans have already taken to social media to express their condolences to Dias’ family and mourn a life taken far too soon.
We’ll have further updates on this developing story ad more information becomes available.
Our thoughts go out to Dias’ family and friends during this tremendously difficult time.
