Cause of Death Confirmed for YouTuber Adam the Woo Weeks After Sudden Passing

New details from the medical examiner’s report reveal Adam Williams died of natural causes tied to previously undiagnosed heart disease.

A young woman with a smartphone walks past a billboard advertisement for YouTube in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 27, 2019. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

More than a month after 51-year-old YouTuber David Adam Williams, known as Adam the Woo, was found dead at his Florida home, his family has confirmed that he died of natural causes tied to previously undiagnosed heart disease.

In a Facebook post shared Jan. 26, Adam’s father, Jim Williams, said the Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with obesity listed as a contributing factor. The report classified the manner of death as natural.

“Our beloved son ... died, in essence, of a heart attack in his sleep from health issues he probably never knew he had,” Williams wrote. The findings were shared weeks after Adam died at his home in Celebration, Florida, on Dec. 22.

According to the Mayo Clinic, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease occurs when plaque builds up inside the arteries, restricting blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Hypertensive heart disease is caused by prolonged high blood pressure, which can strain the heart and damage blood vessels over time. The conditions often develop gradually and may present few symptoms until a serious cardiac event occurs.

Williams said the family chose not to release the full nine-page report but wanted to bring clarity to widespread speculation surrounding his son’s death. “Now, we can all stop guessing,” he wrote, adding that the family was grateful that Adam died at home and was found by friends rather than strangers.

According to his obituary, David Adam Williams was born Aug. 10, 1974, in Tupelo, Mississippi, and later settled in Central Florida.

He launched his first YouTube channel, “adamthewoo,” in 2009, documenting road trips, abandoned places, and pop culture landmarks. In 2012, he began daily vlogging on “The Daily Woo,” eventually building an audience of more than 1 million subscribers across both channels.

Beyond YouTube, Adam Williams was also a musician who toured nationally with his band TNT and other acts. His family described him as humorous, kind-hearted, and deeply devoted to his parents and sister.

He is survived by his parents, Jim and June Williams, his sister, Faith Anne Murray, and a nephew. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date. The family requested that donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse in lieu of flowers, according to the obituary.

Adam the Woo’s final video, posted Dec. 21 to The Daily Woo, showed him walking through downtown Celebration as holiday crowds gathered for Christmas festivities. The vide is titled “The Grinch Takes Over Celebration Florida—Christmas Time Craziness.”