Death of Montreal artist and model known as Zombie Boy ruled accidental

The coroner’s report for Rick Genest, the Montreal artist, model, and Guinness World Record holder known as ‘Zombie Boy,’ was released today, ruling his death as accidental.

Genest fell off a balcony in Le Plateau on August 1, 2018, according to the report. He was 32 years old.

There was initially speculation that Genest had committed suicide, something his friends and family repeatedly denied.

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“The surveillance cameras inside the building recorded Mr. Genest going out on the balcony alone and putting what appeared to be a cigarette to his mouth,” states the Bureau du coroner’s news release. “No one else was seen going out on the balcony between the moment Mr. Genest went out and when he was found on the ground, which makes it possible to rule out a homicide.”

The bureau’s news releases continued to state that Genest “did not seem to be in a state of psychosis or delirium when he went out on the balcony” and that he was happy and highly motivated by his artistic projects.

He had a good support system, a strong network of friends, and had recently gotten engaged before his death. “The investigation did not reveal a clear and unequivocal intention to end his life on Mr. Genest’s part.”

Once completing her investigation, coroner Mélissa Gagnon concluded that Genest died of head trauma from the fall off the third-floor balcony. The report says that, as indicated by his friends, Genest had a habit of sitting on the balcony’s railing while smoking cigarettes outside.

“Given that habit and the fact that Mr. Genest was highly intoxicated, it is plausible that he accidentally fell from the balcony,” concluded the report.

Genest first started gaining the public’s attention after having his entire body, head to toe, covered in tattoos. He holds a Guinness World Record for the most human bone tattoos on the body with 139.

His body art attracted model and fashion agencies throughout North America and Europe and in 2011 he appeared in Lady Gaga’s Born This Way music video.

Genest was born in the Lasalle borough of Montreal before moving off-island to Chateauguay.

A copy of the investigation report, in French or in English, can be obtained by contacting the Bureau du coroner at [email protected].