The tragic passing of Ben Rathbun, a former cast member of "90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days," has been confirmed by TMZ, with the beloved reality TV figure succumbing to stage 4 stomach cancer at the age of 55. Rathbun, who starred alongside his then-girlfriend Mahogany Roca in season 5 of the TLC series, passed away peacefully at his Greencastle, Indiana home on Monday, May 19th. According to TMZ, Rathbun had been bravely battling the disease since late 2024.
During his time on "Before the 90 Days," the then-52-year-old divorced father of four met Roca, originally from Peru, through an online platform. However, concerns arose among Rathbun's loved ones and some viewers that he might be the victim of a catfishing scam, as Roca refused to engage in video calls during their courtship. Undeterred, the couple eventually met in Peru and tied the knot.
Recalling their civil ceremony, Rathbun gushed in a February 2024 episode of the spinoff show "90 Day Diaries," "It was just brilliant; I couldn't believe how beautiful it was." He added, "But we are still planning on having a religious ceremony." Despite their marriage, Rathbun admitted that he was still working on building trust with his new wife. He shared, "We're going through a really difficult transition. I've been without a good job for about six months, and bills have been piling up." Struggling financially, Rathbun expressed his determination to make ends meet and save for his next trip to Peru.
The couple had previously documented their engagement in a YouTube vlog posted in August 2022. However, their journey to the altar was not without its challenges. In March 2022, Rathbun was arrested for failing to appear at a probation violation hearing. Court documents obtained by Us Weekly revealed that the reality star had been booked for operating under the influence and driving with a suspended license in 2020, resulting in an 18-month probation sentence in January 2021.
Rathbun missed a scheduled appearance at a probation violation hearing in February 2022, leading to a bench warrant being issued for his arrest the following month. Addressing the situation in a statement to In Touch, Rathbun explained that he had moved states and the court summons had been delivered to the wrong address. "This was my fault because I needed to make sure I was getting all notices, but by the time I found out, it was too late, and I missed my appointment," he said. "I immediately drove 14 hours and turned myself in to the court, spending a night in jail."
Rathbun's life and legacy will undoubtedly be remembered fondly by those who knew him and those who were touched by his story on "90 Day Fiancé."
