James “L.B.” Bonner, who appeared on the TLC series My 600-lb Life, has been found dead at the age of 30. It is being reported that Bonner took his own life, though police have not yet officially ruled Bonner's death a suicide. Police were called to Bonner's house in South Carolina to perform a welfare check on Thursday (August 2) around 7:45 a.m. According to TMZ, police then found Bonner's body in a ditch with a gunshot wound.
Bonner's friends and family confirmed the news of Bonner's death on social media. "I hope and pray your pain and suffering is lifted off your shoulders now," Bonner's niece, Chelsea Lown Boivin, shared on Facebook. "You created a huge impact on so many people through your journey of life, weight loss, and struggles."
Bonner lost his leg in an ATV accident in 2013, which he described as "one of the hardest things I've ever had to go through." He suffered another devastating loss in 2016 when his best friend passed away. After that, Bonner said the only thing he wanted to do was drink. When he eventually reached about 650 pounds, Bonner decided to appear on TLC's My 600-lb Life to turn his life around. Even after his stint on the show, Bonner kept up his healthy life style. Radar Online reported that he had reached a weight in the 200-pound range before his death.
Bonner had posted a cryptic Facebook message, thanking everyone who had supported him on his journey shortly before his death:
I've realized a few things over the last few days and its time that, I face my demons head on.. 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....
Rest in peace, James "L.B." Bonner.