By Bart Jackson June 8, 2009

The death of Kung Fu star David Carradine has spurred a battle over conspiracy theories among his family, friends and even an ex-wife.

Celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos warns that secretive martial arts sects may have been behind the death, marking it as a murder.

“David was very interested in investigating and disclosing secret societies – absolutely,” Geragos said on CNN’s Larry King show. “What that means is connected to his interest in martial arts. And so there is a suspicion that if there was some foul play, that may be the first area they should look.”

The 72-year-old star of Kill Bill was found naked Thursday with a rope tied to his neck, wrists and genitals, prompting Thai police to say he died when some kinky masturbatory act went awry.

The fourth of Carradine’s five wives, Marina Anderson, thinks the cops are probably right, saying her former husband was often involved in “potentially deadly” kinky sexual encounters. “If he was involved in secret societies, it was a secret even I didn’t know about.”

Carradine’s manager, however, says the evidence points to murder. Photos of the star showed his hands were tied behind his back, says Chick Binder. He also notes there was a footprint on the bed that didn’t match the star’s print.

Members of Carradine’s family, already furious that a Bangkok newspaper printed a photo of the actor’s body hanging in his hotel room, have reported asked the FBI to investigate the death.

Conspiracy theorists have had another martial arts star in their sights for a quarter century. Many think that actor Bruce Lee was targeted by Chinese triads. Lee died in 1973.