Influencer on trial for murder is found dead
THE DEATH …
Garrett Bruno, a 33-year-old social media influencer known for his travel content, was found dead at a residence in Mount Dora, Florida, on Wednesday morning, March 5, 2025, just six months after a fatal car crash that left an elderly woman dead and him facing serious legal consequences. Bruno had been charged with second-degree murder following an October 2024 incident in West Hollywood, where he allegedly T-boned a Ford Expedition driven by 83-year-old Esther Abouab while speeding in his Ford Explorer. The collision killed Abouab instantly, shoving her 4,000-pound SUV across multiple lanes and into a garage, while Bruno was hospitalized in a coma at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills. Released days later, he faced further scrutiny when photographed snorting drugs outside his home, compounding the public and legal fallout from the crash.
Bruno’s death, confirmed by the Orange County Medical Examiners to DailyMail.com on Thursday morning, March 6, 2025, remains under investigation, with authorities yet to disclose the cause. At the time, he was out on bail awaiting trial for Abouab’s death, a case that had drawn significant attention due to his online presence—his Garrett Travels account boasted 61,000 followers—and the dramatic nature of the incident. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office had raided his bungalow in November 2024 to arrest him, only to find he was still recovering from injuries sustained in the crash and a subsequent scooter accident that broke his jaw. His sudden passing leaves unresolved questions about accountability in Abouab’s death, closing a chapter on a saga that blended influencer culture with real-world tragedy.
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The ripple effects of Bruno’s actions and death highlight the volatile intersection of fame, recklessness, and justice. Esther Abouab, a grandmother, became an unintended victim of what authorities described as Bruno’s dangerous driving, a loss that devastated her family and fueled outrage over his behavior post-crash. Meanwhile, Bruno’s own trajectory—from a coma to drug use captured by paparazzi to his mysterious death—paints a picture of a life spiraling out of control under the weight of public scrutiny and legal pressure. As the investigation into his death unfolds, it underscores broader conversations about the consequences of high-profile figures’ actions and the limits of redemption in the face of irreversible harm.