How did Chase Filandro, a New York-based influencer, actually die? Chief Medical Examiner confirms the reason

The cause behind the death of Chase Filandro, a 20-year-old influencer based in New York, has been revealed. The content creator died by suicide on July 31, 2025, the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to PEOPLE. "It was Chase’s own decision to enter Heaven," Filandro's family said in a statement to PEOPLE.

The influencer was a junior at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His family described him as “a talented artist with boundless creativity.” “He was a singer, musician, actor, teacher, artist, poet, and painter,” the statement further stated. “Chase was a beacon of light with a magnetic personality and zest for life that touched everyone he encountered, both in person and online.”

Chase Filandro’s sister first shared the news of his death on Instagram

Filandro’s sister, Franki Ford, was first informed about the influencer’s death with a tribute on her Instagram on August 4, 2025 (Monday). In the post, she wrote that her brother was an “avid traveler” and a lover of national parks. “He always welcomed strangers with a smile and made friends along all the trails he traveled on,” she wrote.

Filandro was the lead vocalist for the five-member indie rock band Just Add Water, which performed around Long Island. He last performed with the group as recently as last summer. Take 2 Studio, an acting school in Huntington, N.Y., where Filandro was involved, also paid tribute to the late actor on Instagram, stating that he would be remembered for his “vibrant spirit” and “the joy he brought into every room.” “His presence was a gift, and his absence leaves a hole in our hearts that can never be filled,” the tribute continued.