Mindy McCready was found dead in her Heber Springs, Ark., home on Sunday night, her brother confirms to the NY Daily News. She was 37.
A source tells E! News that neighbors reportedly heard gunshots at McCready's house and called the police. "She shot herself and the dog," the insider adds.
No other details have been released on her death, but the Daily News is reporting that it was an apparent suicide. NBC's TODAY reports, "The cause of death 'appears to be a single self-inflicted gunshot wound,' the Cleburne County (Ark.) Sheriff's Office said in a statement."
According to TMZ, McCready attempted to take her own life twice before, once in 2005 and again in 2008. She also made several trips to rehab and appeared on the VH1 reality show "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" in 2010.
The troubled star had been struggling following the sudden death of her boyfriend, 34-year-old David Wilson, on Jan. 13, 2013. Although she claimed she had nothing to do with Wilson's passing, McCready's two children Zander, 6, and her son with Wilson, Zayne, 9 months, were taken by authorities on Feb. 6 after family members claimed she was unfit to care for them. She decided to enter an in-patient facility for treatment.
"Since boyfriend (David Wilson) shot himself she has been in bed for 3 wks," her father said in court documents earlier this month. "Sleeps all day. Drinks all night and is taking Rx drugs. Not bathing or even helping take care of her 2 children."
But just a day after being ordered by a judge to enter a facility for a mental-health and alcohol-abuse evaluation, McCready was released to undergo outpatient treatment instead, according to E! News.
In her final interview before her death, McCready talked about Wilson, telling NBC's Andrea Canning last month, "I have never gone through anything this painful. He didn't just touch my heart, he touched my soul. He was my soulmate."
UPDATE: Mindy McCready's rep has released a statement to E! News, saying, "I have no statement or information to provide until I get verification from the authorities in Arkansas and until all family including the children have been notified. The family and I have been trying to reach the authorities. I have not spoken to any officials that were on the scene. I am asking the media for sensitivity in this regard. At this time, any family member coming forward to confirm this is completely inappropriate."
Authorities also released new details concerning the country singer's tragic death: "At 3:31 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 17, deputies from the Cleburne County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a report of gun shots fired," the statement began."Officers arrived on the scene at 3:58 p.m. and discovered the body of 37-year-old Melinda Gayle McCready on the front porch of the residence…Ms. McCready was pronounced dead at the scene from what appears to be a single self-inflicted gunshot wound. At this time family members have been notified of the incident. Ms. Mcready will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy and the matter will be fully investigated."
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