The Los Angeles Times has this story about social media reports that somehow Loretta Fuddy’s death had to do with the so-called “conspiracy” over President Barack Obama‘s birth certificate. Excerpt:

This week, birthers seized on a plane crash off Hawaii that killed one person: state public health Director Loretta Fuddy, the woman who verified the authenticity of Obama’s birth certificate.

Skeptics turned to social media Thursday to suggest that Obama had played some role in Fuddy’s death. Twitter posts included: “The WH tying up loose ends?” “What did she really know?” and “R.I.P. Loretta Fuddy — we’ll know the truth about Barack Hussein Obama, regardless.”

Donald Trump, a longtime doubter of Obama’s birthplace, also weighed in on Twitter: “How amazing, the State Health Director who verified copies of Obama’s ‘birth certificate’ died in plane crash today. All others lived. …”

The LA Times story explains that conspiracy theorists typically latch on to any news, no matter how implausible, to further their views. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.

Read this Huffington Post Hawaii article about the birther movement capitalizing on the tragedy.

Photo: The Donald. (Gage Skidmore)

—Chad Blair