Influencer Deaths

A Brazilian model was found stabbed to death in her ex's car ... after she'd texted her mom that he'd turned up at her home.

Larissa Brito's body was reportedly found during a random customs check of her ex Mathieu's car in Brignoles, France.

A local outlet says she was hidden under plastic bags in the backseat ... and her 29-year-old ex was arrested.

Influencer James Wehr got into trouble for speeding over a year before his fatal car crash, TMZ has learned. 

TMZ obtained court docs showing James was pulled over in Westminster, California, miles away from the site of his death. 

The records show that on February 7, 2025, James was cited for driving 75 mph in a 65 mph zone. James was driving a 2017 black Audi.

James Wehr's crash victim, Lexi Kramer, will be honored at a memorial in Florida next month.

Lexi's sister, Gracie, shared the details on Instagram Friday ... announcing a celebration of life for October 9 in Lakeland, Florida.

Gracie says the event will be a chance for Lexi's loved ones to celebrate her life and cherish their memories. She adds that all of Lexi's friends and family are welcome ... but asks the media to stay away out of respect for everyone who is grieving.

James Wehr's family plans to honor him at the popular car meetup he organized ... and they'll also pay tribute to his "friend" Alexis "Lexi" Kramer ... after they died in a fiery car crash.

South OC Cars and Coffee -- the company James co-founded with his father, Simon Wehr -- announced a celebration of life Saturday morning in San Clemente, CA.

The announcement reads ... "Please join us as we remember our son James and his friend Lexi, who tragically lost their lives together. This Saturday, we will be gathering to remember and honor James, who meant so much to so many in the car community.”

James Wehr and Lexi Kramer's social media pages are under a microscope as cops investigate whether he was boozing the night they died in his McLaren ... TMZ has learned.

The Irvine Police Department tells TMZ ... "We are conducting an extensive investigation that looks at every possible aspect that contributed to this collision," and that includes reviewing images James and Lexi posted last Sunday while out on a date.

We're told cops are trying to figure out if James was drinking before he got behind the wheel that night ... so, they're keenly interested in toxicology testing results from the Medical Examiner's Office.

In the meantime, they're reviewing social media for any clues about where they went, and what they did, in the hours leading up to the crash.

James Wehr's wife, Emma, has retained an attorney following the deadly car crash that claimed her husband's life early Sunday morning.

Attorney Corey Higgins said in an Instagram video his firm is examining a key question ... why was there a significant amount of water on the roadway on an otherwise clear night?

The source of the water has not been identified. Investigators are working to determine how it got there, how long the roadway may have been hazardous and whether another party could ultimately be responsible for creating or failing to address the dangerous condition.

The family of the woman who lost her life in the fatal crash involving car influencer James Wehr is crowdfunding to pay for her funeral costs and other expenses related to her death ... TMZ has learned.

Lexi Kramer was identified as the passenger seated in James' McLaren early Sunday when he lost control of the car and crashed into a tree, igniting an inferno that killed them both.

The 22-year-old was a Hooters calendar girl from Florida ... and she was hanging out with James in Irvine, CA.

Lexi's family launched a GoFundMe, asking for donations to pay for her funeral and to bring her body from California to Florida.

5:40 PM PT -- Lexi Kramer's family claims James Wehr allegedly hid his infidelity and misled Lexi about his divorce.

Car influencer James Wehr lost control of his vehicle before dying in a fiery car crash ... and TMZ obtained the first video revealing what happened when his McLaren smashes into a tree and bursts into flames.

The harrowing footage -- recorded on another car's dash cam -- shows James passing on the left in his exotic sports car just after the light turns green, and he apparently put the pedal to the metal ... but not for long.

James raced over a wet section of the pavement, and immediately hits his brakes ... the McLaren swerves to the right and drives smack into a tree, exploding into a massive fireball.

Influencer Duda Alves is dead ... and it sounds like cops suspect she may have died by suicide, TMZ has confirmed.

Local authorities confirmed the Brazilian content creator died on Sept. 13 ... and the Civil Police of the Federal District told TMZ in a statement that they're investigating her death as a suicide.

They explained to the outlet that they won't be sharing any more details "in order to protect the privacy of the family."

Charlie Kirk's family is making moves to sue Utah Valley University for what they call "stunning failures and reckless decisions" regarding security and planning ... TMZ has learned.

The Kirk family has filed a notice revealing they intend to sue ... a legal step that maintains the family's statute of limitations so that they can file a lawsuit. The notice, obtained by TMZ, alleges "the UVU Parties created a foreseeable danger to Charlie."

The Kirk family attorney adds ... "Those decisions ultimately rendered Mr. Kirk helpless to the rooftop shooter in an assassination that could have been avoided had the UVU Parties only taken reasonable steps to plan and oversee a safe event, steps outlined below that have been standard practice for other universities hosting controversial speakers."

Lexi Kramer's family says she believed car influencer James Wehr truly loved her and his divorce was nearly finalized when he flew her to California for their first date ... TMZ has learned.

The family member tells TMZ ... Lexi and James met through Instagram direct messages and had been talking for about a month before he paid for her flight to California. They spent the day together before the crash that claimed both their lives.

According to Lexi's family, James told her he and his wife were almost finished finalizing their divorce. But after James and Lexi died, the family member says James' wife contacted them and they spoke about James and Lexi's relationship.

James Wehr was behind the wheel of the McLaren that crashed and killed him Sunday ... and cops had actually stopped the vehicle earlier that night.

A spokesperson for the Irvine Police Department tells TMZ ... Newport Beach Police Department stopped the McLaren before the fatal crash and gave the driver a warning.

As we previously reported, Wehr was later driving the 2019 McLaren in Irvine when it crashed shortly after midnight. The impact split the McLaren apart and caused it to burst into flames, killing him and a 22-year-old woman.

According to police, the vehicle was stopped at a red light near Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue before accelerating northbound when the light turned green. The driver then lost control, veered off the road, hit a curb, and slammed into a tree.

James Wehr -- a popular car influencer -- died in Irvine, California, Sunday after his McLaren sports vehicle went up in flames following a crash, according to police and media reports.

Wehr was reportedly behind the wheel of the 2019 McLaren going at a high rate of speed early Sunday morning when he lost control of the car and hit a curb, then plowed into a tree, killing him and a passenger.

Irvine PD officers responded to a call of a "vehicle fire" along with Orange County firefighters, who extinguished the blaze. When the smoke cleared, police found the bodies of Wehr and the unidentified passenger inside.

International bodybuilder Einar Méndez died from a "sudden heart attack" after collapsing ... his wife revealed in a heartbreaking social media post.

The fitness influencer -- who boasts 47,000 followers -- was declared dead on Sept. 4 after a workout session at his Mexico City gym, according to his wife Yan Méndez. He was only 48.

Yan wrote on Instagram ... "Rest in peace, love of my life. Fly to the highest heights, and I promise we will meet again."

LuLu LoveBottom died by apparent suicide ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the call came in for an apparent suicide at a Los Angeles-area home Monday morning where the 31-year-old porn star was living.

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson tells TMZ ... a medical call came in for an adult male. We're told an engine and rescue units were dispatched, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene and was not transported to the hospital.

LuLu LoveBottom -- the popular porn star -- is dead ... and his last social media post is raising eyebrows.

LoveBottom -- whose real name was Lucas Drake -- died Monday after cops responded to a call about a death investigation around 11 AM.

He was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home. A cause of death has not yet been revealed ... and on his final Instagram post, he said, "I love you and I'm sorry I was unable to make it to the end."