Leonel Esteban Borroni, a prominent travel influencer from Argentina, was found dead just hours after being accused of possessing child pornography with intent to distribute. The 40-year-old’s body was discovered by his brother-in-law at his home on the outskirts of Buenos Aires on May 17, local media reported.
According to police reports, Borroni was found hanging from a skylight with his hands and legs bound with plastic ties, leading authorities to suspect that he may have restrained himself. While police suspect suicide, they are awaiting autopsy results for confirmation.
Authorities had raided his house, uncovering electronic devices containing explicit content featuring minors. Although Borroni was not arrested at the time, six other adults, including a physical education teacher, were detained as part of an ongoing human trafficking and sexual abuse investigation.
Per the report, the Youtuber had allegedly left farewell messages on his phone, claiming he is suffering from depression about the accusations thrown at him. The influencer had to attend a preliminary hearing in front of a judge and he reportedly refused to answer the allegations against him. His mother was the one who reported him to the authorities as he was no longer answering her calls.
Borroni, also known as the “Traveling Lion,” gained popularity on social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for his unique travelogues, which documented his adventures around the world on a motorcycle. Before his death, he had amassed over 300,000 followers across his social media channels.
His final post on TikTok, uploaded a week prior to his death, depicted him traveling through Suriname on his motorcycle. The tragic circumstances surrounding Borroni’s death have shocked his followers and the online community, prompting discussions about mental health and the consequences of criminal allegations in the influencer sphere.
