Ashley Mattingly, a former Playboy Playmate, was found dead at her home in Austin, Texas, according to TMZ. She was 33.
Mattingly was found dead last Thursday alongside a suicide note, the model’s family confirmed to People.
Mattingly gained fame as Playboy’s Miss March in 2011. Sadly she had a history with drug and alcohol abuse. In 2016, she was charged with a DUI after driving her golf cart into four parked cars. According to TMZ, the Orange County D.A. hit the former Playmate with 3 counts of driving under the influence -- including 1 for drugs -- and 1 additional count of hit-and-run with property damage -- all misdemeanors. It's also alleged that her BAC was at least .20%.
In 2012, Mattingly also was the victim of alleged domestic abuse. Her neighbours called police when an argument with her then boyfriend Lane Garrison turned volatile. Garrison denied ever hitting Ashley, but in a deal with prosecutors, he agreed to plead no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery.
While her life hasn't been easy for some time now as she struggled with alcohol, Mattingly was having a harder time during Quarantine. In her final Instagram post on April 13, Mattingly filmed herself in a hospital bed and revealed that she was 'sick from alcohol'.
She captions the post: "I’m not quarantined I took bad advice and drank too much which I vomited a lot of blood 🩸 please slow down on the drinking ! U won’t be able to get into a hospital ! I’m lucky!
Mattingly was found unresponsive after a friend called police asking for a wellness check on the model.
In a statement sent to PEOPLE, Ashley’s brother and sister, William and Christy Mattingly said that: “We learned late Thursday night that it is believed that our dear sister with a larger-than-life personality took her own life.”
“We are now loving on her sweet golden retriever puppy that she recently adopted to overcome these demons,” their statement continues. “A friend, whom we are thankful for, called the police for a wellness check and she was found unresponsive her in home. As part of an ongoing investigation, the police have notes that we are told she left behind and we are anxious to read them. She will continue to live on through nieces whom she loved dearly and always thought of no matter how far away she was, a twin brother, two sisters and numerous other friends and family members. We will forever cherish her memories and know that her joy is eternally sealed. We look forward to seeing her again.”
“Our hope is that Ashley’s story can continue to shed a light on suicide awareness and prevention,” the statement concludes. “We love you Ashley.”
Sister Christy also shared a touching tribute on Facebook.
Because I can’t find the words to say I will just leave this here. I love you and will miss you everyday. Fly high sister, I know you are the most gorgeous angel in heaven!Death brings pain that time can only heal, No words could ease what we truly feel but with god, her joy is eternally sealed and I’ll cherish her memories that death can’t even steal. ~ Author Unknown
Because I can’t find the words to say I will just leave this here. I love you and will miss you everyday. Fly high...
Posted by Christy L Deweese on Sunday, April 19, 2020
Loneliness is a killer. Depression is deadly. Check in on your friends and family regularly.
People that are feeling emotional distress related to COVID-19 can take actions to help support themselves and others.
- Set a limit on media consumption, including social media, local or national news.
- Stay active. Make sure to get enough sleep and rest. Stay hydrated and avoid excessive amounts of caffeine or alcohol. Eat healthy foods when possible.
- Connect with loved ones and others who may be experiencing stress about the outbreak. Talk about your feelings and enjoy conversation unrelated to the outbreak.
- Get accurate health information from reputable sources. For health information about COVID-19, please contact the Centers for Disease Control at cdc.gov, your local healthcare provider, or your local 211 and 311 services, if available.
- The national Disaster Distress Helplineis available to anyone experiencing emotional distress related to COVID-19. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak to a caring counselor.
- If you’re experiencing emotional distress related to COVID-19, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or your local crisis line.
