BJ Penn's Mother Murdered? The Truth Behind It and His Alleged Capgras Syndrome

BJ Penn, the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, is at the centre of a disturbing legal and psychological controversy. In a series of social media posts and court appearances throughout 2025, the 46-year-old Hawaiian fighter claimed that his mother was murdered and replaced by an imposter. These allegations come as Penn faces assault charges and prepares to represent himself at trial in July, raising broader concerns about his mental health and a possible diagnosis of Capgras syndrome.

Murder Claims and Identity Allegations

In various video messages posted on Instagram, Penn alleged that his mother had been murdered and replaced with an imposter living at the family's Hilo home. In the video posted in March, he was accusing the government of being behind the 'replacement' of his mother.

He further claimed that other family members had also been replaced. In a separate video, he showed what seems to be proof that his brother JD is 'fake'. He then wrote, 'If I harm any of these people that are acting like my mom or my brothers, I go to jail and lose everything. If they harm me, nothing will happen to them and I lose everything'.

Another video was posted by Penn captioned 'My mother Lorraine Shin, my brother Jay Dee Penn, my brother, Reagan Penn and my brother Kalani Mamazuka we're all murdered and I need you to investigate these guys get these people out of my house and my off my properties.'

In court, he formally requested a 'supervised identity verification' of the woman currently believed to be Lorraine Shin, which the judge denied.

These allegations shocked the MMA community and prompted discussions about Penn's mental state. Videos of him confronting his alleged 'imposter' mother were widely circulated online, drawing both sympathy and concern from fans and observers.

What Is Capgras Syndrome?

In court documents acquired by MMA Fighting, Penn's mother told a Hawaii court that the fighter's behaviour may be symptomatic of Capgras syndrome, a rare psychiatric disorder that causes an individual to believe that someone close to them has been replaced by an identical-looking imposter.

According to medical experts, Capgras syndrome has been associated with neurological damage and conditions such as schizophrenia, dementia or brain trauma. Given Penn's years of combat sport participation and history of physical injuries, concerns have been raised about the possible connection between his fighting career and the onset of delusional behaviour.

While there is no official diagnosis made public, the mention of Capgras syndrome in court filings has drawn attention to the role of mental health in cases involving professional athletes.

BJ Penn's Rise to Fame and Legal Challenges

BJ Penn, born Jay Dee Penn III, made history in the UFC as one of the first fighters to win championships in two weight classes. Known for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu prowess, he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2015.

In early 2025, Penn was charged with assault in Hawaii and later subjected to a restraining order filed by his mother. The court barred him from coming within 100 yards of her. He has since been arrested multiple times for violating the order, including an incident in which he admitted to contacting her for financial records to support his legal defence.

Penn has waived his right to legal counsel and will act as his own defence in the trial scheduled for 25 August 2025.