Playboy model Ashley Mattingly dead by apparent suicide at 33

Playboy model Ashley Mattingly has tragically died from an apparent suicide at the age of 33. 

Mattingly's twin brother Billy and sister Christy confirmed the sad news to TMZ, revealing that their sister had passed away at her home in Austin, Texas, on Friday. 

Police were called after a friend asked them to perform a wellness check on Mattingly. She was found unresponsive inside her home, where she was living alone. 

According to her family, Mattingly — who was named Playboy's Miss March in 2011 — had lived in Austin for the last two years while recovering from substance abuse issues. Back in 2016, TMZ reported that Mattingly was charged with a DUI for allegedly crashing a golf cart  into four parked cars in her old neighbourhood Laguna Beach, California. 

Mattingly's siblings also told the outlet that their sister had found the Texas' coronavirus Safer at Home order difficult. The model had even adopted a dog, a golden retriever she named Miss Jean, to keep her company. 

Former Playboy model Tiffany Toth expressed her condolences on Twitter after hearing the news.

"May you RIP," Toth tweeted. "I'm not very good with words when it comes to things like this, but I'm so sorry." 

Toth also defended Mattingly from trolls who were posting insensitive comments and speculating about her death. 

"People like you are annoying, don't comment on someones death and act like you know something because you read something," she tweeted. "I see you didn't actually know her and misread info from your google search."

If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

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