Last night, the world was shocked to learn of the death of Ashley Sawyer, the star of one of the more memorable episodes of MTV’s Catfish.
The news was confirmed to the public in a social media post from the network:
“MTV is deeply saddened to learn that Ashley Sawyer has passed away,” the statement read.
“Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.”
No cause of death was given at the time, but now Radar Online is reporting that Sawyer’s passing appears to have been drug related.
According to a statement from the Hoover (Alabama) Police Department’s public information officer, Chuck McDonald, EMTs responded to a 911 call just after midnight on Monday to find Sawyer unconscious in her apartment.
“Arriving officers found a white female unconscious with bystanders/witnesses performing CPR,” McDonald revealed.
“Officers attempted to revive the female with the Automated External Defibrillator (AED), to no avail.”
McDonald didn’t speculate on the cause, but an autopsy report indicates that Sawyer’s death “may be related to a drug overdose, possibly heroin.”
Police sources confirm that Sawyer received a dose of Narcan, which is typically administered only in cases of narcotic overdose.
The 23-year-old was reportedly pronounced dead on the scene.
Sawyer’s episode is remembered by Catfish fans for the revelation that she and online friend Michael Fortunato were both “catfishing” one another by misrepresenting their identities online.
Tragically, Fortunato died of a pulmonary embolism at the age of 26 just one month after the episode aired.
Sawyer appeared on a recent catch-up episode and revealed that she had been staying in a sober-living facility after struggling with substance abuse for several years.
“Shocked and saddened by the death of Ashley Sawyer,” Catfish co-host Max Joseph tweeted yesterday,
“So sweet and kind. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family.”
