Max Azzarello DIES just hours after setting himself on fire while protesting outside Trump's hush money trial in NYC - as friends reveal the heartbreaking moment that triggered his spiral into self-destruction

The man who set himself on fire outside Trump's hush money trial in New York has died from his injuries, as his friends and neighbors said it was the death of his mother two years ago that made him increasingly unstable.

Max Azzarello, a 37-year-old from St. Augustine, Florida, died Friday night hours after the shocking display, said to be 'an 'extreme act of protest...[against] a totalitarian con, and our own government' on his own Substack.

The Florida native was a graduate from Rutgers University, where he received a master’s degree in city and regional planning in 2012, friends said.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital’s burn unit where died just before 11 pm, sources familiar with the matter added Friday night - hours after was seen throwing a stack of pamphlets that included a link to his conspiracy-laden Substack seconds before igniting.

In interviews carried out within that span, several who knew Azzarello described a different sort of man from the one responsible for a slew of rambling, paranoid posts plastered throughout his social media.

Max Azzarello - the man who set himself on fire outside Trump's hush money trial in New York Friday - has died from his injuries

The revelation comes hours after he doused himself in accelerant outside the courthouse before going up in flames 

Azzarello, a 37-year-old from St. Augustine, Florida, is seen holding a sign a outside the Manhattan criminal courthouse on April 18 - a day before the disaster

'He was super curious about social justice and the way things "could" be,' fellow Rutgers alum Katie Brennan told the New York Times Friday of the self-professed 'investigative researcher.'

'He was creative and adventurous.'

An friend from high school, Steven Waldman, remembered Azzarello - who had a job in marketing, sales, and tech before becoming unemployed at some point in 2021 or 2022 - as one of the smartest people he knew. 

'He was a good friend and person and cared about the world,' he told the publication.

Both talked up the confirmed conspiracy theorist has decidedly normal, as did his neighbors in historic St. Augustine, where he lived in a small apartment near the Matanzas River.

'[He was] an extremely nice person,' recalled the property manager of his apartment building, Larry Altman.

He went on to add: 'He had political views that I would not consider mainstream. 

'He called our government and the world government a Ponzi scheme,' Altman remembered, before disclaiming those views were hardly a cause for concern.

'If you met Max, he’d shake your hand, and you’d have a nice conversation,' he told The Times. 'He’d treat you with respect.' 

His oldest friends were left even more surprised by his sudden act, with Carol Waldman, the mom of his childhood friend, recalling: 'He was kind and a gentle soul.

'A real wonderful, terrific young guy. Who had his whole life ahead of him.' 

But things quickly changed after the death of his mother, Elizabeth Azzarello, on April 6, 2022 - almost two years to the day before his self-immolation. 

After the loss - spurred by a bout with pulmonary disease -  his friends in St Augustine said they saw a change, one that culminated with Azzarello secretly traveling to New York City at some point this year, without his family's knowledge.

'A real wonderful, terrific young guy,' one friend said of Azzarello, seen here with his mom , Elizabeth Azzarello, in Palm Beach in 2016. '[He] had his whole life ahead of him.' But things changed after the death of mom on April 6, 2022 - almost two years to the day before his act

Max is seen here his mother (second from right) and father Richard (far right) in 2013. Those who knew him said he had been extremely close with Elizabeth. After her death, he changed his profession on LinkedIn as 'Research Investigator,' self-employed

'That was around the time when he became more outspoken,' Waldman said of this period, referring to the last eight or so months of 2022. 

'They were close, and they had a good relationship. He was heartbroken.' he recalled.

By the next year, Azzarello and his writings - after penning a beautifully worded memorial following his mother's death - were almost unrecognizable. 

'This extreme act of protest is to draw attention to an urgent and important discovery,' Azzarello wrote in part of his online manifesto, titled The Ponzi Papers. 

'We are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup.'

He added how this supposed regime 'is about to hit us with an apocalyptic facist world coup,' just months after a series of arrests in his home state for incidents that took place in August, including hurling a drink at a photo of Bill Clinton.

Oddly, the alleged research investigator is seen smiling in an undated photo with the Democrat seen on his still-up LinkedIn, where he wrote, 'we have a secret facist problem.'

In March 2023, he changed his profession on LinkedIn as 'Research Investigator,' self-employed, and in June reportedly tagged Brennan and others to make sure they had seen something he had written. 

Speaking to The Times, she framed it as a 'manifesto', and remembered how she called him to intervene.

On his LinkedIn profile, a younger Azzarello appears in a photo with Bill Clinton - a figure of fascination for him in recent years, posts on social media show. In an accompanying cation to his bio, the suspected conspiracy theorist writes, 'We've got a secret fascism problem'

Photos from 10 years later - in the spring of last year - show papers scrawled with seemingly random words and ramblings in what appears to be the man's apartment

Much of it appeared obsessive and meaningless, with some of the pages merely containing alphabetized words and definitions

'This extreme act of protest is to draw attention to an urgent and important discovery,' Azzarello wrote in part of his online manifesto, billed as The Ponzi Papers. 'We are victims of a totalitarian con, and our own government (along with many of their allies) is about to hit us with an apocalyptic fascist world coup'

When that didn't work, she said she wrote to one of his relatives to make sure they were aware he was not in the right state of mind - just over a year before he woudl set himself on fire as Trump's criminal trial entered its fourth day.

Eight months before this, though, Azzarello posted to Facebook to tell his online friends he had visited a mental health treatment facility, writing, 'Three days in the psych ward, and all I got were my new favorite socks.'

He was also spotted outside the courthouse both Thursday and Friday, where he reportedly told The New York Times, 'Trump's in on it.' Trump is facing allegations he falsified business records related to payments made to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels.

Again framing himself as a 'research investigator', Azzarello told the paper his beliefs were influenced by research he had carried out into Peter Thiel, the venture capitalist whose seed money helped start firms like PayPal and Facebook.

Photographed holding a sign that read 'Trump is with Biden and they're about to facist coup us', he said: 'It's a secret kleptocracy, and it can only lead to an apocalyptic fascist coup.'

The day before, he reportedly held a sign critical of New York University before heading to the courthouse, while handing out literature on the subject.  

On Friday, the self-employed 'investigative researcher' suddenly tossed a stack of pamphlets into the air that included links to his manifesto, seconds before suddenly setting himself ablaze.

After the self-immolation, cops descended on the area just before 2pm, after which he was brought to a nearby hospital’s burn unit. He died shortly before 11 pm, sources familiar with the matter confirmed. 

Azarello, seen here in a August 24, 2023, mugshot, had recently completed 180 days probation for a string of incidents over disorderly conduct and destruction of property in Florida, where cops and members of the public cited his erratic and 'rambling' behavior

Azzarello was arrested several time last year in the Sunshine State for breach of the peace. Friends have said the once-stable Florida resident became unhinged after the death of his mother two years ago, sending him on a descent chronicled in countless social media posts

Fliers spotted at the scene of the self-immolation shortly after it occurred. It has not been confirmed if they belong to the victim

The pamphlets found at the scene link to a Substack curated by the self-described 'investigative researcher'

The tragedy unfolded while former president Trump (pictured on Friday morning) was inside the courthouse 

'Trump's in on it,' Azzarello reportedly told the Times on Thursday, saying his beliefs were influenced by research he had carried out into Peter Thiel, the venture capitalist behind companies like PayPal and Facebook. 'It's a secret kleptocracy, and it can only lead to an apocalyptic fascist coup,' the anti-establishment conspiracy theorist said

In an article authored hours before he spewed unfounded theories about the 'elites', COVID, and Clinton, who appeared to have become a source of fascination for Azzarello over the years

The post bore the startling succinct headline: 'I have set myself on fire outside of the Trump Trial', as other social media posts provided more insight into the college graduate's fragile state of mind.

DailyMail.com gained more insight after learning the activist just week ago completed a six month probation sentence - handed out following a string of incidents in Florida involving either disorderly conduct, destruction of property, and overall erratic, 'rambling' behavior.

DailyMail.com obtained criminal complaints for each, which all place within a matter of days in August.

In the first of three, cops wrote how Azzarello threw a glass of wine at a framed and autographed photograph of President Clinton displayed in the lobby of the Casa Monica Hotel in his hometown of Saint Augustine the evening of August 19, 2023,

The complaint, which lists him as unemployed, notes the incident took place as Azzarello had just finished dinner at the hotel restaurant.

He went on to launch the glass at the image, breaking the glass on the framed photograph and damaging it with wine in the process.

Then, two days later, Azzarello was arrested again at the Case Monica, after he was reported for 'standing outside, stripping his clothes off and yelling at customers.'

DailyMail.com has obtained three criminal complaints of the incidents - all of which took place in August last year

In one, officers wrote how Azzarello, 37, threw a glass of wine at a framed and autographed photograph of Bill Clinton displayed in the lobby of the Casa Monica Hotel in his hometown of Saint Augustine, Florida, on August 19 of this past year. He is listed as unemployed

When cops arrived, they noted how the suspect was 'wearing nothing but his underwear, standing on the sidewalk[, and] holing [sic] a speaker blasting music and yelling', officers wrote eight months ago.

The hotel manager, meanwhile, was said to have told officers that customers were 'scared for their safety', and that many were unable to enter or exit for fear of being caught up in the then-suspect's episode.

On August 24, he was arrested once more for graffitiing property and rifling through a woman's belongings in the flatbed of her truck, after allegedly being seen yelling in someone's yards after 'misinterpreting' an exterminator's sign warning people to keep their children and pets off a lawn that had just been treated.

Cops, at the time, wrote how the conspiracy theorist was convinced the pest control company was 'there to exterminate children and dogs', as all the events occurred within walking distance of Azzarello's apartment.

In a discovery that provided more insight into the man behind the incident, DailyMail.com found Azzarello had posted to Facebook earlier that month, this time to tell his friends that he had just spent three days in a psych ward.

'I was handcuffed, shoved, and put into a psych ward,' he wrote in the update, in which he described how cops suddenly showed up at his St Augustine pad necause he had tipped a Starbucks barista $200 and wrote 'Go F*** Yourself' on the receipt.

'I was given no information about why I was there until after my discharge,' he said, as another post a few weeks later indicated her served jail time for the alleged stunt.

Witnesses described the incident as a 'political protest' although it was not clear what side he was on

As of 2.20pm police described the individual as in a 'critical' condition

New York City police officers inspect the scene where a man lit himself on fire in a park outside Manhattan criminal court

White fire extinguisher residue marks the spot where the incident took place in Collect Pond Park

Less than three months later, a suit he filed against Clinton and 100 other influential figures was tossed when he failed to follow up with required court filings, after claiming Mark Cuban, Richard Branson, the country of Saudi Arabia, and more were carrying 'an elaborate network of Ponzi schemes' dating back to the 1990s and continuing through 2023.

Other defendants named in the 2023 suit included 1992 Independent presidential candidate Ross Perot, who died in 2019.  The case - filed by Azzarello without a lawyer - was tossed this past October.

Then, in an Instagram story posted a little over nine weeks ago, Azzarello shared a picture of Taylor Swift donned in Super Woman apparel.

He wrote in the caption: 'Super Bowl LVII Forecast: 100% chance of broflakes melting down and whining across the nation.'  

Azzarello wrote: 'Why are we all so divided? Because the people who stole the American Dream are shouting 'You're divided! You're divided!' in all directions.'

In another post from this time period, Azzarello appeared to show support for the Eras performer, commenting on a photo of her flashing the peace sign while delivering a commencement speech at New York University.

 'Still her best picture,' Azzarello wrote over the May 2022 image, held in front of the same school would go on to slam two months later days before setting himself ablaze.

'NYU is a mob front', the headline of literature being passed around by the activist in Lower Manhattan not far from the courthouse Wednesday read.

More posts from the period provide insight into other objects of the suspect's obsessions

He appears to have some dissatisfaction with the US government, painting it as a so-called cult

An accompanying tagline added that the pamphlet was 'a brief guide to[the school's] most criminal secrets.'

Reporters with the Times, meanwhile, confirmed the suspect was holding a sign on Wednesday critical of the school at Washington Square Park Wednesday, before moving on Thursday to the park where the incident occurred.  A link to his Ponzi Papers Substack was provided.

On Wednesday, he also posted an Instagram highlight saying he would be 'spending the week at Washington Square Park airing out all of NYU's dirty laundry', a day before a final Instagram story just minutes before the blaze. 

'I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you,' it read. 

At 1:37 pm, law enforcement responded to calls reporting the fire, before rushing Azzarello to a city hospital where he is said to be in critical condition. 

The New York Police Department said an investigation is ongoing, as other recent social media posts show how Azzarello recently praised 'martyrs' like the former U.S. military member who also lit himself on fire, but died during protest.   

'NYU is a mob front', the headline of literature being passed around by the activist in Lower Manhattan not far from the courthouse Wednesday read.

An accompanying tagline added that the pamphlet was 'a brief guide to[the school's] most criminal secrets.

On Wednesday, he also posted an Instagram highlight saying he would be 'spending the week at Washington Square Park airing out all of NYU's dirty laundry', a day before a final Instagram story just minutes before the blaze.

'I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you I love you,' it read 

At  1:37 pm, law enforcement responded to the fire, before bringing Azzarello to a city hospital where he is said to be in critical condition. The New York Police Department said an investigation is ongoing

'Heroes and martyrs, folks,' Azzarello posted on his Instagram after the February death of US Air Force Active Duty Member Aaron Bushnell, adding 'God f****** bless you, Aaron Bushnell.'

Bushnell, 25, died after self immolating outside the Israeli Embassy this past February in Washington, D.C., in protest of Israel's war in Gaza.

'My name is Aaron Bushnell, I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force and I will no longer be complicit in genocide,' Bushnell is heard saying in video of the incident. 

'I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers, it's not extreme at all. 

'This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.'

Like Bushnell, Azzarello released his own manifesto before his act on Friday.

However, unlike the late servicemen, his motives appear a bit more muddied - with most of his pages attacking facism and the supposed complacency of the general public.

In his Substack, he again states he is an 'investigative researcher'.

The New York Police Department said an investigation is ongoing, as other recent social media posts show how Azzarello recently praised "martyrs" like the former U.S. military member who also lit himself on fire, but died during the February protest against the war in Gaza

Like the Air Force member, Aaron Bushnell (pictured) Azzarello released his own manifesto before his act on Friday, but unlike the late servicemen, his motives seem a bit more muddied

The rest of the profile amounts to a rambling diatribe ageist the establishment, which Azzarello appears to be the authors of 'totalitarian con'. 

He also warns of a 'an apocalyptic fascist world coup', and in fliers posted to his social media, he flaunts other self made pamphlets centered around the 'dipshit secrets of our rotten world'.

'When the economy collapses and it feels like World War III overnight, you'll know exactly why,' Azzarello warns in the flier. 

His profile claims he has been self-employed since March of 2023. In one post, he claimed to have served 40 days in jail for one of the incidents back in August.

The NYPD investigation into the incident, as of writing, remains ongoing.