We have an official follow-up on the tragic death of L.B. Bonner.
As previously detailed to the best of our ability, the former 600-lb Life star was found dead last week in park in Lexington, South Carolina.
Initial reports, however, made it unclear just how Bonner passed away, although all signs pointed to suicide and certain outlets said Bonner’s was discovered in a ditch.
Thanks to the official coroner’s report, we can now confirm this very sad piece of news:
L.B. Bonner died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
It does still remain unclear, however, just what prompted someone inside Bonner’s home to call 911 because he or she was concerned about the former TLC star’s well-being.
This is what led to an officer arriving on the scene and eventually finding Bonner’s corpse.
Such a detail is unimportant at this point; there are just so many questions to ponder any time someone commits suicide.
Prior to his death, Bonner shared a Facebook message in which he thanked everyone for their support and said he needed to “face his demons.”
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support throughout my journey,” he wrote in this post, adding:
“I’ve realized a few things over the last few days and its time that I face my demons head on.”
He added, in what effectively served as a suicide note:
No matter what you change or the efforts you put forth in life, sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and deal with things your own way.
Again, thank y’all so much. Please don’t ever let people you care about not know how you feel…
This post served as quite a troubling change from Bonner’s usual presence on Facebook.
As evidenced by a message he penned mere days before he killed himself, Bonner often started each morning with an inspiring set of words.
In 2013, Bonner lost his leg in a car crash and later turned to food and alcohol to cope with the loss.
He weighed 650 pounds at the time he started filming My 600-lb Life.
Over the course of his stint on the series, though, the 30-year-old got sober and underwent a lap-band surgery, which led to him losing over 400 pounds.
He was considered by viewers and producers to be one of the program’s most impressive success stories.
But it was clear, to anyone that paid close attention, that Bonner often struggled with his mental health.
In June, he shared a photo of the late Robin Williams (who committed suicide) on Instagram with the saying: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be Kind. ALWAYS.”
Wrote Bonner as his caption:
“This is so true, step out your comfort zone to be kind.”
In the wake of his passing, TLC released a statement that read:
James “LB” Bonner, who appeared on this past season of My 600-lb Life, has sadly passed away.
On the show, viewers saw LB struggle with obesity following a tragic accident that claimed his right leg. Even though he once weighed 650 pounds, LB’s hard work and dedication helped get him in the 200-pound range.
His spirit and determination as displayed through his story, quickly made LB a fan-favorite, and family & friends have taken to LB’s Facebook page to commemorate his life.
TLC was deeply saddened to hear of LB’s passing and is honored to have shared his honest and courageous story on My 600-lb Life.
