Ben Rathbun, who became known to fans of 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days, has sadly passed away at the age of 55. He died at his home in Greencastle, Indiana, on May 19, with his family by his side. Ben had been battling stage 4 stomach cancer, a diagnosis he received late last year.
Ben first appeared on Season 5 of Before the 90 Days, where viewers got to know him as a 52-year-old father of four who had fallen for a much younger woman online—22-year-old Mahogany Roca from Peru. Like many couples on the show, they met virtually and tried to make their relationship work under the K-1 visa process, which gives international couples 90 days to marry after arriving in the U.S.
At first, there was a lot of skepticism around their relationship. Mahogany avoided video calls, which made both fans and Ben’s family suspicious that she might not be who she claimed to be. But those doubts faded when Ben flew to Peru, and the couple finally met in person—and eventually tied the knot.
Their marriage was first revealed in a 2022 YouTube video, and by February 2024, the couple confirmed on 90 Day Diaries that they’d had a civil ceremony. Ben described it as a beautiful and joyful moment, though he added that they were still planning a religious ceremony in the future.
Behind the scenes, though, life wasn’t easy. Ben admitted in interviews that he had been struggling financially—he’d been without steady work for around six months and was finding it hard to cover bills. He was doing his best to stay afloat while also saving up to visit Mahogany again in Peru. Even amid these hardships, they were reportedly still together at the time of his passing.
Ben’s life also included a few rough chapters. In 2020, he was arrested for driving under the influence and with a suspended license. He was given probation in 2021, but later missed a court hearing, which led to a bench warrant. Ben later explained that he hadn’t gotten the proper court notice in time, but once he realized, he drove 14 hours to turn himself in and spent a night in jail.
News of Ben’s passing was first shared on Instagram by the page shabootydotcom and later confirmed by TMZ. His fight with cancer lasted for several months, but in the end, he was able to be at home, surrounded by the people who loved him most.
Ben’s journey—from reality TV fame to personal struggles and a hard-fought battle with cancer—touched many who watched his story unfold.