Former Child Star Sophie Nyweide Attempted Suicide 4 Weeks Before Her Death

[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]

We’re still learning more troubling details about Sophie Nyweide’s life over the past few years…

As we previously reported, the former child star passed away in April at such a young age — 24 years old. It’s still a mystery what happened to her, as the cause of death has yet to be determined. Authorities are investigating this as a “possible unintentional overdose,” but they haven’t entirely ruled out foul play. However, what we know so far is tragic. Sophie was found on a riverbank in Vermont in the early morning of April 14, apparently hanging out at a spot frequented by drug users. And she was pregnant at the time of her death.

Before the actress passed away, it seems she experienced some horrific trauma over the years. The obituary written by her family references “therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her,” “being taken advantage of,” and “struggles and traumas.” It also included a link to RAINN, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Just some truly dark stuff here. Her mother, Shelly Gibson, later shared that Sophie was using drugs “for quite a while” and was “ in many treatment centers” up until she was 18. Oof.

Now, we’re getting more of a picture of what the Mammoth star went through during the last years of her life. Brace yourselves. According to documents obtained by Us Weekly on Wednesday, Sophie had multiple run-ins with the police in Bennington, Vermont, over the past two years — which included the time when cops responded to 911 calls for an attempted suicide. This happened just four weeks before she tragically passed away.

Per Us Weekly, it all began in August 2023. At the time, an incident report stated the Bennington Police Department responded to an emergency call about a potential heroin overdose in the parking lot of a counseling center. Sophie’s dad, Jeffrey, was with her at the time and told officers they traveled from Manchester, Vermont, to attend a counseling session because she “struggled with using opiates for five years.” While the pair stopped to get breakfast, she said she was going outside to get fresh air. However, her father found her lying against the car in an “unconscious state” soon after. Police discovered “tinfoil with [a] black mark next to a glassine bag” while investigating the scene.

In April 2024, Sophie was involved in two more incidents. The documents said police received reports about a suspicious vehicle. When cops arrived at the scene, they found Sophie behind the wheel. She allegedly told the authorities she “just left the hospital, was tired, and was looking for a spot to sleep.” But she was parked outside a home she “used to buy drugs” — and was “hoping to ‘use.’” Police discovered “approximately five burnt Chore Boy pieces,” which is a cleaning product often used as a screen in drug tools.

That same month, Bennington police approached a vehicle and found Sophie with a “glassine stamped baggie” that they claimed was “contingent with heroin/fentanyl.” She was placed in hand restraints. And her trouble with the law didn’t end there.

During a traffic stop in May 2024, per the docs, a “deceptive” and “defensive” Sophie agreed to a search but became worried because “her father would be mad if she took a long time.” Officers ended up finding a glass smoking device and more Chore Boy pieces when she shook out her bag. A second encounter with police happened that month, in which Sophie was identified as part of a group of “illicit drug users.” Although the Bella star said she had no drug paraphernalia, police claimed:

“[The officer] was able to feel something hard in her pants … [and] when [she] pulled her pants out, [they were] able to see a silicone container that she was concealing… to be used to carry illicit drugs.”

Per official records, law enforcement recognized a glass smoking device and silicone container with a white rock-like substance consistent with crack cocaine. From there, Sophie was taken into custody several times for active warrants. Authorities discovered heroin and five baggies with the number “357,” which tested positive for fentanyl, in June 2024. The following month, Sophie was named as one of four people reported to 911 as “passed out” in a vehicle. She also reported to police in July that her car was stolen after she left it unlocked with the keys inside in a parking lot. Fortunately, she was able to find it 40 miles away in Albany, New York, all thanks to an AirTag.

In August 2024, police received a 911 call claiming Sophie stole a TV from a nearby Walmart. However, she did not face any charges. Sadly, cops received another call about a potential overdose and a “female slumped over the steering wheel” two weeks later. When police arrived, Sophie said she only ran out of gas and was there for two hours but did not need any assistance.

Her run-ins with the law continued throughout October and November of that year. She was part of multiple investigations into suspected drug use in the Bennington area. On October 13, Us Weekly reported that Sophie called for help after she “thought she heard voices outside her residence.” But she then told police she was safe. Later that same month, police investigated an overdose after Sophie gave a friend Narcan. Thankfully, the pal survived.

Flash forward to January 2025, and Sophie was then taken into custody on an active warrant when she was identified in the passenger seat of a truck pulled over by police. She was taken to the police station and given $1,000 bail.

And here is where her story takes an extremely heartbreaking turn…

Four weeks before her death, cops responded to a 911 call on March 11 about a suicide attempt. Sophie reportedly “had cut her arm on purpose,” and received care at a nearby medical clinic. Awful. Officers later conducted a welfare check on her and claimed she appeared “injured” after seeing her walking. Sophie said she was “in pain” and was taken to the hospital. Sadly, she died just weeks later.

As we mentioned, we don’t know how Sophie passed away yet. The autopsy is still pending. Her mom suspects “it will be a drug overdose,” though. And given her history, those results wouldn’t be shocking. Just devastating.

For resources on mental health, visit https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is available. Consider contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, by calling, texting, or chatting, or go to 988lifeline.org.

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]