Bobbie Jean Carter Was Found 'Unresponsive' in the Bathroom of Her Florida Home: Police
Bobbie Jean Carter — sister to Nick and the late Aaron Carter — died on Dec. 23 at the age of 41.
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Bobbie Jean Carter was found unresponsive in the bathroom of her Florida home on Dec. 23, the Hillsborough Sheriff’s department confirms to PEOPLE.
Carter was then immediately transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. She was 41.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has opened a death investigation, and they also say deputies learned that Carter was on probation for cocaine possession at the time of her death.
Carter’s roommates, however, told the deputies she had not used any narcotics since her release from prison — where PEOPLE confirmed she was held from late September to early November — and the sheriff’s office adds that no narcotics or paraphernalia were found in Carter’s bedroom or bathroom.
There were also no signs of foul play, say the authorities, who stayed with Carter’s daughter, Bella, 8, until her next of kin arrived from Orlando.
Related: Bobbie Jean Carter, Sister to Aaron and Nick Carter, Dead at 41
Although a family source initially said Bella was in the care of her grandmother, another Carter family source tells PEOPLE exclusively that she is staying with an aunt — her late father's sister — at this time.
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Carter’s mother, Jane, paid tribute to her daughter on Saturday in a statement to TMZ.
"I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean, and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time," she said, referring to the deaths of her son Aaron, who died at 34 in November 2022, and daughter Leslie, who died at 25 in 2012.
Aaron was initially found in the bathtub of his California home, and in April 2023, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled his death accidental. The report stated that Aaron was "incapacitated while in the bathtub," ultimately leading to drowning as drugs difluoroethane and alprazolam (the generic form of brand-name Xanax) took effect.
Sources close to the Carters tell PEOPLE the family believes Bobbie Jean died after going into cardiac arrest. Her official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office.
Back in June, Carter was arrested in Florida after she allegedly stole stickers and markers from a Hobby Lobby and was allegedly found to have drugs on her person. She was charged with one count of retail theft and possession of fentanyl.
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