Local YouTube Star Caleb Logan Brataley Dies Suddenly At 13

ANNAPOLIS (WJZ) -- A Maryland teenager who was a phenomenon on social media has died. Thirteen-year-old Caleb LeBlanc---who went by Caleb Brataley online---passed away from natural causes last week. His death in Anne Arundel County has made headlines around the world.

Meghan McCorkell has more on what happened.

Anne Arundel County police will only say the teenager died last Thursday after a medical emergency, though they won't specify what that emergency was.

The last video of 13-year-old Caleb Logan LeBlanc was posted the day before he died. The teen YouTube star was part of the popular "Brataley" family vlog, with 1.6 million Youtube subscribers.

"We had several officers that had their kids, that they said that he followed him on YouTube and they were very upset with the loss," said Lt. Ryan Frashure.

Thursday, police responded to a call for a medical emergency at his Anne Arundel County home. Caleb was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

"It appears that there's nothing criminal involved with this death; there was nothing suspicious at the scene that officers found," said Frashure.

On Instagram, Caleb's mother wrote, "This has come as a shock to all of us. Words cannot describe how much we will miss him."

For five years, viewers have watched Caleb grow up. Recent videos have shown him playing baseball and even interviewing a presidential candidate.

Caleb's death has rocked the online community; one fan wrote, "No no no, how did this happen?"

The family, who lives in Arnold, recently signed a deal with Maker Studios---a company owned by Disney. The company's founder wrote, "Praying for Brataley and crying over the loss of Caleb."

An autopsy will determine how the teen died. His body has been taken to the medical examiner's office. They say the case is still open.

The family has asked for privacy as they grieve. They haven't released specifics on how their son died.