Connor wasn't dead. He flatlined, was brought back and was put into a medically induced coma that the doctors said he wouldn't wake up from. The Murphys lost hope, and basically carried on as if he were already dead. The Connor project happened, and of course, crashed and burned. And then he woke up. [the Connor Project drama took place in junior year, so connor woke up in Senior year,bc i have no idea how to write adults ]