Renowned travel and extreme sports photographer John P Fitzpatrick of New York City was found unresponsive in a hotel outside Zagreb, Croatia on Monday, July 15, 2013. An autopsy will be performed, but, preliminary cause of Fitzpatrick's passing is believed to be alcohol. Fitzpatrick's blood alcohol level was reported to be .59 (in most states, a blood alcohol level of .10% is considered legally drunk, and, a blood alcohol level of .37%-.40% or higher can cause death.)Fitzpatrick may have been in Croatia since it is a non-extradition country and Fitzpatrick had many criminal cases pending against him. In the past 18 months Fitzpatrick's award winning photography career came crashing down around him. Getting fired for jobs for not showing, and, also having several law suits pending against him for breach of contract. He also had several serious criminal accounts of ID theft, rape, and, possession of illegal weapons. There are more than a half dozen complaints registered against Fitzpatrick with Federal agencies such as FTC (Federal Trade Commission and, IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center), and, he had numerous complaints filed by frightened witnesses and victims via Crime Stoppers in both the United States and Canada.
Fitzpatrick was especially vocal about his hatred towards former friend and co-worker, travel writer and publisher T.R. "Tina" Threston, and, late publisher Sofia Braganza (who died in June, 2013 due to complications of a cancerous tumor.) He had publicly threatened to rape and kill both women, and, was the in the process of being charged of several accounts of ID Theft with both women. Threston was not available for commentary regarding this latest development with Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick's partner in crimes, disbarred and disgraced attorney John Duncan, is also currently reported to be in Croatia. It can only be assumed the two men rendezvoused in the non-extradition country to avoid the formal charges that were beginning to pend against both of them.
According to Fitzpatrick's sister, Noreen Fitzpatrick of Dorset, Vermont "John had been acting strange for about 2 years. He became distant at first, and, then pulled away from family and friends altogether, and, became abusive to everyone." She went on to say "We all knew John had a serious drinking problem, he had been battling the addiction for years, but, we are still distraught over the news, and, my Mother and Father are completely devastated. We can only express our most profound apologies to those people who had their lives complicated or even destroyed because of John and his behavior."
Fitzpatrick has been known by at least two dozen aliases, and three falsified passports were found among Fitzpatrick's possessions in the Croatian hotel where he was found. No further information is available at this time.