Marafioti’s troubles were known for years
Tragedy has struck the poker community as law enforcement has confirmed the death of poker pro Matt Marafioti in an apparent suicide. Marafioti, 33, leaves behind a one-year-old son.
Marafioti was of the generation who rose to prominence during the poker boom and around Black Friday. The Toronto-native won over $2.8 million in live tournaments, but was best known for his prowess in high stakes online cash games. He bought into the high rolling, poker luxury lifestyle, happy to flaunt his big spending. Marafioti was brash and could be abrasiveness, but he was also known as very caring and funny, to both friends and strangers alike.
Unfortunately, it became clear over the last several years that Marafioti was suffering from mental health issues. His social media posts and video were often ranting, winding, nonsensical conspiracy theories laced with paranoia.
In 2006, friends thought Marafioti might have died, as he went missing for 45 days. It worried people more that in the months leading up to his disappearance, he posted tweets and videos that made little sense, talking about things ranging from international drug smuggling, Barack Obama, Italian crime syndicates, and government surveillance. When he reappeared, he assured everyone that he was fine, but friends were not reassured.
Paranoia surrounding custody battle
It all came to a head last week, as he posted on Instagram about his custody battle for his son, weaving a tale throughout that discussion of the Illuminati and the “social justice movement” coming after him.
“Enjoying a beautiful lunch and enjoying summer,” Marafioti wrote in one of his final Instagram posts. “No word back from either lawyer yet. Looks like a set up to make it look like I disappeared before the court case to me to avoid exposing the whole Illuminati through factual evidence. Here comes the arrest or disappearance. I’m dead either way. Tortured first too.”
He was increasingly convinced over the final weeks of his life that someone was out to kidnap him, in some way related to his custody case.
His final Instagram post is extremely sad, amounting to what looks like a suicide note. In hit, Marafioti displayed a picture of a man, who he said was about to abduct him. He continued:
“They are waiting for me outside his apartment on the 29th floor in fort Lee New Jersey where I am trying to pick up my belongings from my old apartment at the Modern. I’m at 200 Winston drive cliff side park. If I leave this apartment they are going to make me go missing. If I stay they are going to say I’m crazy and won’t leave. Everything is a Catch 22 and they are setting me up for torture if I go missing or by saying I’m crazy.”
“Sammy I love you so much. You mean the world to me. I am always with you no matter what. Love dad.”
And then the clincher, a message to his son: “Sammy I love you so much. You mean the world to me. I am always with you no matter what. Love dad.”
A law enforcement official told the Daily Voice that Marafioti “apparently thought his perceived pursuers ‘were coming to get him’ when he panicked and jumped” from the 28th-story balcony of a friend’s condo in Cliffside Park, New Jersey.
Two lifeguards at the pool next door hear Marafioti scream and soon after discovered his body.
Friends pay tribute
As rumors and then confirmation of Marafioti’s death spread over the last few days, friends and fellow poker players paid tribute to him on social media and message boards. The overriding theme was obvious sadness that his is gone and that his son will not know his father, but so many are also sorry that they couldn’t do more to help. Many saw this as an unfortunate inevitability and almost feel worse that they aren’t shocked than they are at what happened.
Friends remember Matt’s unique combination of cockiness and compassion. One of the sweetest tributes came from Léah Hendriks on Marafioti’s last Instagram post.
“I knew Matt from the time he was a baby and up until his teens and poker days and his charisma, warmth, sensitivity and intelligence are how I’ve always, always thought of him,” Hendriks recalled. “He has a wonderful family, beautiful parents, and he is a human being with all of the love inside his heart and also the vulnerabilities we all have. Life is not easy.”
“This is a man with a brilliant mind and big heart who I’ll always remember with so much love and respect, and this is a man whose profound love of his son is evident through all of his posts.”
