Dear jules:
There are websites that list homicides and perhaps suicides in a particular area, for example death index. com/ california/ los angeles, and homicide. latimes. com (no spaces) lists such deaths for the area of Los Angeles, California. It may be possible for you to find out if what he claims happened, really did happen.
From the little you shared, seems to me that he is not coming back (the answer to your question), that he ghosted you, seems to me. He gave you a reason, or an excuse, real or made up and … blocked you. I am sorry. Again, this is what seems to me, one individual in these forums, what makes sense to me.
anita