David Murphey YouTube/TLC
90 Day Fiancé star David Murphey’s cause of death has been revealed.
Murphey died from “cardiac arrhythmia and hypertensive cardiovascular disease,” a Clark County, Nevada spokesperson told Us Weekly on Thursday, December 19.
Murphey had a history of pulmonary embolism and his death has been ruled natural. He was 66. (TMZ was the first to report the news.)
Murphey’s family shared via Instagram on Wednesday, December 18, that he died earlier this month. “We are deeply saddened to announce that David Murphey, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away at home on December 11, 2024 after experiencing health issues over the last several years. He was 66 years old,” they wrote.
The statement called Murphey a “veteran, small business owner and software engineer,” noting that he recently retired from the Clark County Treasurer’s office in Nevada, and worked for H&R Block and IGT.
“He was also well known for his time as a cast member on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days,” they wrote. “His time on the show allowed him to connect with viewers, see the world, and share his experiences with his thousands of followers on Instagram. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and fans. David has survived by his two sisters and his cat Gamera. The family asked for privacy during this difficult time.”
The statement noted Murphey’s love of cats and encouraged his followers to make a donation to The Animal Foundation in his honor.
“As many knew, David had a fierce love for cats,” they wrote. “He always made an effort to adopt cats and give them a good loving home. David’s choice for adopting was from The Animal Foundation in Las Vegas. For friends and fans who want to help, we ask that you honor his memory by making a donation to The Animal Foundation in his name.”
Murphey was a cast member on season 4 of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, where viewers watched his relationship with girlfriend Lana develop. Murphey and Lana had been talking online for seven years after meeting on the dating app Anastasia Date. He popped the question to Lana in 2019, but the pair ultimately went their separate ways.
Prior to his death, Murphey opened up about his health battles in an Instagram Live. “I’ve been ill, basically,” he said in March 2023.
Murphey explained at the time that he had been “in and out of the hospital” for almost three months, noting that his “liver is not working right.”
He added that his gallbladder “has to come out,” while claiming that his doctors thought he had “acute Hepatitis” and “something going on” with his pancreas and kidneys and two blood clots in his lungs. “They don’t know if it’s cancer yet,” Murphey said at the time.
