Gia Allemand dead at 29: Former 'Bachelor' contestant dies in suicide by hanging
The reality star, who hailed from Queens, N.Y., was found unconscious by her boyfriend, Ryan Anderson, and rushed to the hospital. She was taken off life support on Wednesday due to a 'critical loss of brain and organ function.' Report claims romance had hit a 'rocky patch.'
Reality TV beauty Gia Allemand, who grew up in Queens, N.Y., and experienced televised heartbreak on “The Bachelor,” died Wednesday — two days after her boyfriend found her hanging in her New Orleans home.
The 29-year-old former Maxim model was removed from a life-support machine at a hospital after doctors determined she suffered a “critical loss of brain and organ function,” her family said in a statement.
“Ms. Allemand passed away peacefully with her mother, boyfriend and other lifelong friends by her side,” the statement said. “As a practicing Christian, Gia did received the sacrament of last rites.”
There was no immediate word if Allemand left a suicide note.
Allemand’s boyfriend, NBA player Ryan Anderson of the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered her limp body hanging in her house Monday and called 911.
She was taken to University Hospital in New Orleans, where Anderson and her mother, Donna, kept vigil over her.
The romance between Allemand and Anderson, 25, the New Jersey Nets’ first-round draft choice in 2008, had recently hit a rocky patch, TMZ.com reported Wednesday.
But a distraught Anderson, who began dating Allemand in 2011, expressed nothing but love for her Wednesday night.
“I’m deeply grateful for all the love and support we have received from family, friends and fans,” Anderson said in a statement. “Gia was the most beautiful person I knew inside and out, and she always smiled and made everyone else around her smile.
“She had such an amazing impact on my life and anyone that knew her was blessed,” he said. “All I have left is to cherish those memories we made together and help perpetuate the many values, faith and love that we shared.”
Allemand gave no indication she was depressed to the point of suicide in recent days, making her death even more baffling to friends. In her final Twitter post Sunday, she she quoted Proverbs 21:3: “Doing what is right and fair pleases The Lord more than an offering.”
On Aug. 5, Allemand attended a viewing party for the finale of “The Bachelorette” in the Meatpacking District. The event was hosted by close friend Ali Fedotowsky, who competed against her on “The Bachelor.”
“I love these guys,” a bubbly Allemand told E!News of her “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” family. “Any time we’re together, it’s always just so fun. It’s the best time. We just all have this really strong connection.”
Fedotowsky said Allemand, who also was part of the cast of the “Bachelor Pad” spinoff show, was in good spirits and appeared healthy when she saw her at the party.
“We lost an incredible human being today,” Fedotowsky tweeted after learning of Allemand’s death.
Allemand, a 5-foot-5 brunette knockout, was raised in Howard Beach in Queens.
In 2010, she was a finalist on Season 14 of “The Bachelor,” vying for a winning red rose from airline captain Jake Pavelka. Allemand lost Pavelka to Vienna Girardi, to whom he proposed marriage. The couple later split up.
“I am in complete shock and devastated to hear the news about Gia,” Pavelka said Wednesday on Twitter. “She was one of the sweetest people I have ever known and a very dear friend. My heart goes out to her family during this very difficult time. We have lost [an] angel today.”
Mike Fleiss — creator and executive producer of “The Bachelor” — said Allemand’s death is “a devastating loss.”
“The entire Bachelor family is tremendously saddened by the tragic passing of our friend, Gia,” Fleiss said in a statement. “She was truly a sweet and generous soul.”
Before Anderson, Allemand dated former Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano. In 2006, she was riding in Pavano’s Porsche when he crashed into a truck in Florida.
Pavano, on a rehab assignment at the time, broke two ribs, but kept it hidden from Yankee bosses for 11 days.
Allemand defended Pavano, telling the Daily News reports of a coverup were blown out of proportion.
“There are more important things we should be worrying about than this,” she said at the time.
LINK: Gia Allemand dead at 29: Former 'Bachelor' contestant dies in suicide by hanging - NY Daily News
The reality star, who hailed from Queens, N.Y., was found unconscious by her boyfriend, Ryan Anderson, and rushed to the hospital. She was taken off life support on Wednesday due to a 'critical loss of brain and organ function.' Report claims romance had hit a 'rocky patch.'
Reality TV beauty Gia Allemand, who grew up in Queens, N.Y., and experienced televised heartbreak on “The Bachelor,” died Wednesday — two days after her boyfriend found her hanging in her New Orleans home.
The 29-year-old former Maxim model was removed from a life-support machine at a hospital after doctors determined she suffered a “critical loss of brain and organ function,” her family said in a statement.
“Ms. Allemand passed away peacefully with her mother, boyfriend and other lifelong friends by her side,” the statement said. “As a practicing Christian, Gia did received the sacrament of last rites.”
There was no immediate word if Allemand left a suicide note.
Allemand’s boyfriend, NBA player Ryan Anderson of the New Orleans Pelicans, discovered her limp body hanging in her house Monday and called 911.
She was taken to University Hospital in New Orleans, where Anderson and her mother, Donna, kept vigil over her.
The romance between Allemand and Anderson, 25, the New Jersey Nets’ first-round draft choice in 2008, had recently hit a rocky patch, TMZ.com reported Wednesday.
But a distraught Anderson, who began dating Allemand in 2011, expressed nothing but love for her Wednesday night.
“I’m deeply grateful for all the love and support we have received from family, friends and fans,” Anderson said in a statement. “Gia was the most beautiful person I knew inside and out, and she always smiled and made everyone else around her smile.
“She had such an amazing impact on my life and anyone that knew her was blessed,” he said. “All I have left is to cherish those memories we made together and help perpetuate the many values, faith and love that we shared.”
Allemand gave no indication she was depressed to the point of suicide in recent days, making her death even more baffling to friends. In her final Twitter post Sunday, she she quoted Proverbs 21:3: “Doing what is right and fair pleases The Lord more than an offering.”
On Aug. 5, Allemand attended a viewing party for the finale of “The Bachelorette” in the Meatpacking District. The event was hosted by close friend Ali Fedotowsky, who competed against her on “The Bachelor.”
“I love these guys,” a bubbly Allemand told E!News of her “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” family. “Any time we’re together, it’s always just so fun. It’s the best time. We just all have this really strong connection.”
Fedotowsky said Allemand, who also was part of the cast of the “Bachelor Pad” spinoff show, was in good spirits and appeared healthy when she saw her at the party.
“We lost an incredible human being today,” Fedotowsky tweeted after learning of Allemand’s death.
Allemand, a 5-foot-5 brunette knockout, was raised in Howard Beach in Queens.
In 2010, she was a finalist on Season 14 of “The Bachelor,” vying for a winning red rose from airline captain Jake Pavelka. Allemand lost Pavelka to Vienna Girardi, to whom he proposed marriage. The couple later split up.
“I am in complete shock and devastated to hear the news about Gia,” Pavelka said Wednesday on Twitter. “She was one of the sweetest people I have ever known and a very dear friend. My heart goes out to her family during this very difficult time. We have lost [an] angel today.”
Mike Fleiss — creator and executive producer of “The Bachelor” — said Allemand’s death is “a devastating loss.”
“The entire Bachelor family is tremendously saddened by the tragic passing of our friend, Gia,” Fleiss said in a statement. “She was truly a sweet and generous soul.”
Before Anderson, Allemand dated former Yankee pitcher Carl Pavano. In 2006, she was riding in Pavano’s Porsche when he crashed into a truck in Florida.
Pavano, on a rehab assignment at the time, broke two ribs, but kept it hidden from Yankee bosses for 11 days.
Allemand defended Pavano, telling the Daily News reports of a coverup were blown out of proportion.
“There are more important things we should be worrying about than this,” she said at the time.
LINK: Gia Allemand dead at 29: Former 'Bachelor' contestant dies in suicide by hanging - NY Daily News
