Bodybuilding Influencer, 22, Found in Apartment Under Mysterious Circumstances

A rising bodybuilding star with millions of followers was found deceased inside his apartment after days of silence, leaving behind unsettling questions that are still unfolding.

Gabriel Ganley, known online as "Bebezinho," had been preparing for one of Brazil's biggest bodybuilding competitions before his sudden death shocked fans and sparked intense speculation.

For followers of the 22-year-old influencer, the timeline surrounding his final days only made the situation more disturbing. Authorities initially described the case as unusual, while details found inside his apartment added another layer of intrigue.

Now, newly released information appears to offer answers, but not everyone is convinced the mystery surrounding his death is fully resolved.

Found Alone Inside His Apartment

The Brazilian bodybuilding influencer was found dead inside his São Paulo apartment on Saturday, May 23, 2026, after friends reportedly became concerned when they had not heard from him for nearly two days.

According to the New York Post, a friend asked building staff to help force open the apartment door after Ganley stopped responding. The 22-year-old was discovered face-down on the floor of his kitchen.

Police later confirmed there were "no apparent signs of violence" at the scene, but the case was still registered as a "suspicious death – sudden death."

That description quickly fueled online discussion, especially after reports claimed investigators found several medications and possibly anabolic steroids inside the apartment.

Authorities also said it remained unclear exactly when Ganley died.

Competition Plans Suddenly Cut Short

Ganley had reportedly been preparing for "Musclecontest Brazil," one of the country's largest bodybuilding competitions, which was scheduled for July.

The influencer built a massive online following by sharing workout routines, strict diet plans, and bodybuilding updates with more than 2.4 million Instagram followers.

On social media, he was widely known by the nickname "Bebezinho," which translates to "Little Baby." His final Instagram post, shared on May 22, showed him posing during a workout session while highlighting his leg training progress.

The sudden nature of his death stunned many followers because Ganley had continued posting fitness content regularly in the days leading up to the discovery.

Previous Health Complaints Resurface

After news of his death broke, older reports about Ganley's health struggles began resurfacing online.

Brazilian outlet NCS Total previously reported that the influencer had complained about chest pain, shortness of breath, pneumonia, and fluid buildup in his lungs after rapidly gaining nearly 44 pounds of muscle in just a few days.

Ganley had also previously promoted "natural bodybuilding," which refers to competing without performance-enhancing drugs. However, he later admitted to using anabolic steroids.

Investigators reportedly considered whether a hypoglycemic episode may have contributed to his collapse. According to reports cited by Brazilian media, hypoglycemia can sometimes occur after steroid use is interrupted.

Despite the growing speculation, Ganley's mother reportedly said she last spoke to her son on Thursday night and that he did not mention any symptoms or health concerns at the time. She also reportedly claimed he had no history of heart disease.

Cause of Death Revealed

Days after the investigation began, new information emerged regarding Ganley's official cause of death. According to a second New York Post report citing Brazilian outlet G1 Globo, Ganley died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, also known as HCM.

The condition causes the heart muscle to thicken, potentially making it harder for the heart to pump blood properly. The Mayo Clinic states that some people with HCM show few or no symptoms, while others may experience dangerous irregular heartbeats or sudden death.

Even after the reported findings from his death certificate, authorities were still reportedly awaiting final forensic results tied to the investigation.

That lingering uncertainty has kept attention focused on the strange circumstances surrounding the influencer's death.

Tributes Pour In

Following the announcement of his death, supplement company Integral Medica — one of Ganley's sponsors — shared a public tribute honoring the young athlete.

"We lost much more than a talented and dedicated athlete with a bright future ahead," the company said in part.

The statement continued: "Ganley left his mark wherever he went. His charisma, his presence, and his passion for life will remain alive in the memories of all who had the privilege of knowing him and walking alongside him."

Meanwhile, fans continued flooding Ganley’s Instagram page with messages mourning the influencer whose career appeared to be rapidly growing just weeks before his death.

As questions continue surrounding his sudden death, the tragedy becomes yet another reminder of how quickly lives can be lost without warning, and how families are often left trying to piece together their final moments.

For one Texas mother, that heartbreak began with a simple unanswered text message from her teenage daughter.

Courtney Hodge, 19, of Red Oak, Texas, was a freshman at Louisiana State University who had just finished her first year of college.

On Friday, May 22, 2026, she got in her car and started driving home from school. But she never made it, and her mother spent that day waiting for a reply and sending a few more desperate messages.

Where Did the Crash Happen, and What Caused It?

Louisiana State Police began an investigation into a car crash just after 3 p.m. that day. According to officials, Courtney was driving a 2025 Kia K4 westbound on the highway when a semi-truck ahead of her began to slow down as it approached a crossover.

For reasons investigators have not yet determined, the Kia failed to brake, and it struck the back of the truck. Unfortunately, Courtney died at the scene from her injuries. The cause of the crash remains under active investigation.

Her parents, Sherqueena and Brian Jackson, got in their car and went to Louisiana immediately after learning what happened. Sherqueena said she needed to be there.

"My husband drove us down to Louisiana so we could see her and let her know that I was here and that she didn't have to be by herself and be afraid," she explained.

Sadly, they never received good news. Brian put his grief into the only words that seemed to fit. "You can't be OK," he said. "There's no OK."

Who Was Courtney, and What Did She Leave Behind?

Courtney was studying political science at college, had graduated from Red Oak High School in the top 10% of her class, and, by every account, was the kind of person who made a room feel fuller just by walking into it.

In high school, she had been a cheerleader, a soccer player, and someone her family said was naturally drawn to people, and people were equally attracted to her.

She loved music, Tyler, the Creator in particular, and brought a constant energy and laughter to everyone around her. Her mother further shared, "She's just a great sister, a great daughter, a great granddaughter, a great friend."

Courtney had a little sister, 7-year-old Carter, who adored her. "And she was the best sister that I could ever have, and she was my best friend," Carter said.

Their family also described the 19-year-old as the light of their home. A home that, as of this week, feels painfully quiet.

What Was the Last Message Her Mother Sent?

That Friday, Sherqueena sent Courtney a text, knowing that she would be driving home from school. "Before I left work, I had texted her, 'Refresh your Life360,'" she told WFAA. "She didn’t respond to that."

Life360 is a location-sharing app, so families and/or friends can keep track of their loved ones whom they have authorized. At first, when Courtney didn't reply, Sherqueena didn't think much of it.

Her daughter was known for letting her phone's battery die. But as time passed without a reply, something shifted. In a Facebook post shared on May 23, Sherqueena wrote about what she noticed in those quiet minutes.

"My text messages were green instead of blue, and your phone was going straight to voicemail," she wrote. "Now you were known to let that phone go dead, but this was a different type of silence."

In the post, Sherqueena talked about having sent Courtney some gas money for the drive home and how she was waiting at the house in anticipation of her arrival. The plan for that particular evening included a celebratory dinner out.

Additionally, this visit back home was meant to be a short, week-long break before Courtney needed to head back to LSU.

Then came a call from a number Sherqueena didn't recognize. Her first thought was that Courtney had borrowed someone's phone. "Thinking, 'ok, she's using someone's phone,'" she wrote, "but it was not you on the other end."

What Did Her Mother Write After the Call?

Sherqueena shared a screenshot of the text thread on the same Facebook post, and the desperate messages sent after getting that call show a mother going through every stage of fear in real time.

It started with the practical. Then the tone shifted:

"Tell them to take care of you. I love you. Tell them your sister is waiting for you. Wake up please. Moo are you ok? Please be ok. I just want to hold you."

None of those messages was ever answered.

In the same post, Sherqueena explained that she would've far preferred to receive unpredictable text messages from her child than to get no response at all. She also expressed her deep and enduring love for her daughter, whom she affectionately called Moo.

Speaking to WFAA, the family ultimately hoped that people would carry Courtney's memory forward. "She was a friend to everybody," Sherqueena said.

We offer our condolences to Courtney's loved ones as they deal with this tragedy.