What Happened To James Bonner From My 600-Lb Life After The Show

Summary

• James Bonner from My 600-lb Life struggled with weight gain and trauma after a car accident, leading to his participation in the show.
• After losing a significant amount of weight, James qualified for gastric band surgery and made progress in his journey.
• Tragically, James took his own life, leaving fans and loved ones mourning the loss of a passionate and determined individual.

This article contains details about a suicide.

James Bonner was a part of My 600-lb Life season 6, and it’s time to share an update. He appeared on the show because he wanted to change his life significantly. His weight gain was getting out of control, and he knew that he needed professional assistance to improve his health. James was able to get help from Dr. Younan Nowzaradan.My 600-Lb Life season 12 is now over, and some people may be thinking about the stars of previous seasons. There is information to share about James’ life and times.

In 2013, before he filmed My 600-lb Life, James was involved in a severe car accident, and he sadly lost his leg as a result. This was a traumatic experience for him, as it would be for anyone. After that awful incident, James turned to food and alcohol for solace – he began to gain weight. As he was overindulging, he eventually weighed 650 pounds. At that point, he decided to get help from Dr.Nowzaradan so he could better manage his health. He left the series after slimming down to 316 pounds.

James Qualified For Bariatric Surgery On My 600-Lb Life

This Procedure Can Change Lives

James shed enough weight to qualify for gastric band surgery. He also got sober, so he was clearly making every effort to live a healthier life. After the operation, his weight dropped to 200 pounds. He shared frequent updates on his Facebook page. He wanted to keep everyone in the loop about his progress. Learn about his arduous journey in the clip shown above.

However, fans soon learned some heartbreaking news. James tragically passed away, and his body was found by a police officer from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. The law enforcement official was called to James’ home after a report was made by someone who was concerned about his welfare.

My 600-Lb Life Alum James Bonner Will Always Be Missed

His Life Was So Challenging

James’ openness, spirit, and determination made him a fan favorite on My 600-Lb Life. This is why his death was so shocking to many people. He didn’t pass away at home, as he was found in a park near his residence. As first reported by TMZ, he died from a single gunshot wound to the head, which caused a brain laceration. James took his own life.

The loss of James’ leg was a pivotal and traumatic thing. It changed him, setting the stage for an even worse tragedy. The loss of a limb is devastating. It’s no wonder the intense and emotional Scorpio man, who was born on November 19, 1987, used food as a coping mechanism. Learning to live with a disability takes years, and some people never adjust.

The differences take their toll, and in extreme cases, they can warp the psyche.

James is actually a double Scorpio. His Sun and Moon are both in that sign. Scorpio is ruled by Pluto. Scorpio natives take things seriously – for them, relationships aren’t a game. In fact, they may feel like anything that opens them up emotionally is life or death. This all or nothing kind of passion is inspiring – it’s pure and beautiful. However, when things go wrong, the double Scorpio can turn a level of energy that is practically nuclear inward – they can poison themselves with negative thoughts that lead to self-loathing.

James was a good person – he was loved. He had value. However, he clearly couldn’t recognize the beauty in his soul, or maybe a cruel world made him forget. Born under the sign of death and rebirth, James’ spirit can soar in the afterlife. Freed from a body that was hard to inhabit, his soul may now roam unhindered. His death is a tragedy.

A person’s Venus sign shows what they love – they may be attracted to (or attract) people born under that sign. Sometimes, they attract the opposite sign – they seek each other out for balance. James’ Venus is in Sagittarius. This is a freedom-loving sign. When James lost his mobility, it must have crushed him emotionally. Sagittarius is symbolized by a Centaur – half-man and half-horse. It’s about action – movement, energy, risk-taking – it’s the sign of the Archer. Losing a leg may have felt like more punishment than he could bear.

As well, people born with planets in Sagittarius tend to overindulge – there’s a sort of natural “party energy” with this Venus sign – if they aren’t enjoying freedom, sports and fun events, they may try to get the same hit of pleasure from food or alcohol. Typically, someone with this Venus sign is quite optimistic – however, that hopeful spirit usually comes from exercise, fresh air…freedom. When James lost his leg, he probably felt like he’d lost his freedom too.

James’ funeral was held on August 6, 2018. His obituary is posted at Legacy. His service was arranged by his family and Barr-Price Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. The obituary shows the late My 600-Lb Life star’s sweetest and most endearing qualities. He worked hard to learn new things and excel in various lines of work. As per Legacy.com:

L.B. was a great cook and master griller. He was a man of many talents; he went to school to become a heavy equipment operator, worked as a flooring estimator, an auctioneer, and a bouncer.

James is more than an overweight person who died. He was someone that his family loved. In fact, they called him:

Teddy Bear

Now and then, he did show that bright Venus in Sagittarius spirit – he was a funny person. In the obituary, his loved ones honored his “large heart” and called him a “jokester.” However, ultimately, James was a Scorpio – serious, sensitive, passionate and deep. Life can be very hard, and for James, it got too hard. It’s such a shame that no one was there to change his mind. He’ll always be remembered.

James believed in treating people well. He talked about being kind to everyone because they might be going through difficult times behind closed doors. Before he died, the My 600-lb Life alum added a cryptic post to his Facebook page. He spoke about his gratitude to those who had shown him love and support throughout his journey. He added that he had to face his demons head-on. James’ death was terribly sad, and he will always be missed.

​​​My 600-Lb Life is available for streaming on Discovery+ and TLC Go.

Sources: TMZ, Legacy