[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
We don’t have firm answers about the shocking death of child star Sophie Nyweide yet… but we have some more disturbing details.
For those who haven’t seen, her family released an obituary late last week that hinted the life of the actress from Noah and Mammoth had turned down an extremely dark path before her death. They hinted at horrible trauma and drug use but didn’t say how she died — just that it happened last Monday, April 14. And that she was 24 years old.
Now we have some details from the investigation into her premature death. Apparently it’s not yet known exactly how Sophie met her end — but cops are not ruling out foul play at this time.
The Bennington Police Department told TMZ on Tuesday that the young actress’ body was found on a riverbank in Bennington, Vermont. She was declared dead at the scene. This was back on April 14, at around 4 a.m. Disturbingly this wasn’t far from the local high school.
Apparently there was a makeshift shelter by the river, just a simple lean-to made from tree branches. Cops said she wasn’t living there, but that she was spending time there with multiple other people. And it wasn’t her first time hanging around there. Cops said one friend found there, an unnamed man, was cooperating — notably they clarified he is NOT a person of interest — but they are still looking for others who may have been present.
Her mother Shelly spoke to TMZ to clarify that whatever was in her obit, the references to RAINN and “being taken advantage” were not implying something untoward on the movie sets she had been on:
“We are very distraught and mourning. All I can say is her time acting was brief but very happy. She wasn’t a child star in the least and wasn’t subjected to anything hurtful on those films. She was always safe on those sets. Please let her rest in peace now.”
The grieving mother did confirm her daughter had been “using drugs,” saying about the investigation into her death:
“My knowledge is she was using drugs and was a tiny young woman. She was with other people when she died. I didn’t know them. There is an investigation ongoing. The autopsy results are not in. They said it would take 6-8 weeks. So I can’t say definitively.”
The police confirmed an autopsy and toxicology report are both pending. Until then, there are a number of possible causes. Again, they are not ruling out foul play yet. Just awful.
If you or someone you know is experiencing substance abuse, help is available. Consider checking out the resources SAMHSA provides at https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline or check out StartYourRecovery.org
[Image via PNP/WENN.]
-
Categories
