Man who spent $100,000 to look like Justin Bieber found dead in Southern California motel room

A man who said he spent $100,000 on plastic surgery in order to look like pop star Justin Bieber was found dead in a San Fernando Valley motel room, authorities said Wednesday.|

LOS ANGELES — A man who said he spent $100,000 on plastic surgery in order to look like pop star Justin Bieber was found dead in a San Fernando Valley motel room, a law enforcement source said Wednesday.

Tobias Strebel, 35, also went by the name Toby Sheldon and gained attention on reality TV for his efforts to emulate Bieber appearance, appearing on shows such as 'My Strange Addiction.'

He was first reported missing Aug. 18, said Officer Mike Lopez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Strebel was last seen about 5:30 a.m. Aug. 17 on North Orange Grove Avenue in Los Angeles, Lopez said.

On the night of Aug. 21, he was found dead in a Motel 6 on Roscoe Boulevard in North Hills, a law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times.

The L.A. County coroner's office has not formally identified his body, and the results of the autopsy have been deferred.

The LAPD has not officially concluded that the body found in the motel was that of Strebel.

Strebel's death was first reported by TMZ.

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