Food influencer and BBQ enthusiast Michael Duarte died on Saturday while traveling with his family in Texas.

Duarte was best known for his grilling and barbecue skills, amassing hundreds of thousands of followers on social media under the handle “Food With Bear Hands.” His death “occurred just three short days” after he and his wife, Jessica, celebrated their ninth wedding anniversary, according to a GoFundMe launched to raise funds to cover Duarte’s funeral expenses and take care of his wife and their 6-year-old daughter, Oakley. The GoFundMe doesn’t give a cause of death, only listing it as a “horrible incident.”

“This heartbreak came without warning, leaving Jessica to incur the expense of bringing him back home to California and covering funeral expenses,” the online campaign stated.

“During this time, and in the months/years ahead, we want to make sure that Jessica and Oakley are taken care of as Michael would have wanted them to be. Your support would bring comfort, stability, and a reminder that they are not carrying this weight alone.”

“The funeral plans for Michael are undecided at this time, but we will update you all at a later date. The family deeply thanks you for your love and support as they grieve through this tragic loss.”

Funeral plans for Duarte have not yet been decided. As of Wednesday, the GoFundMe page has raised nearly $65,000 of the $100,000 goal. Duarte’s cause of death remains unknown.

Duarte’s wife and talent agency shared statements on social media

On Sunday, Jessica shared a loving tribute to her late husband on Instagram, describing how her life had changed in just “24 hours” after losing the love of her life.

“It’s been 24 hours since my world came crashing down. I’m numb, angry, depressed. Words can’t describe this kind of pain. I never thought I would be writing this,” she wrote in the post’s caption. “To the world you were foodwithbearhands but to us you were a loving husband and father. You didn’t deserve this.”

“I will love you forever and I will be strong for our daughter and I know how much you loved us. If everyone can stop and please pray for our family. To my husband I will miss you…until we meet again 💔.

That same day, Duarte’s talent agency, Alooma Media Group, also shared a statement on the social media platform about the influencer’s death.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our valued client and dear friend, Michael Duarte,” the company began.

“Michael was so much more than a client to us at Alooma. He was a true & loyal partner, a trusted collaborator, and above all, a remarkable person. His passion, professionalism, and creativity left a lasting mark not only on our team but on everyone who had the privilege of working with him.”

Who was Michael Duarte?

Duarte was born and raised in Calipatria, Calif, a small city about 40 miles northwest of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to an autobiographical Instagram post he shared last month and the New York Daily News.

He began working at his uncle’s Mexican restaurant, Nana Dora’s, at 14. His mother then sent him to live with his family in San Diego at 18, where he worked at various restaurants, moving up from dishwasher to manager.

During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Duarte said that he reached a “breaking point” and had a “mental health crisis,” which led him to rehab. After spending some time there, he said he began posting cooking videos on social media. It wasn’t until he started featuring his daughter in some of them that what he was doing truly made him happy, and he turned it into a business.

His fans and followers have also shared their prayers and condolences on his posts to his friends and family.