On Sunday, the world said goodbye to country music singer Mindy McCready who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 37.
Oddly, Cleburne County Sheriff Marty Moss reported on Monday that McCready also killed her late boyfriend David Wilson's dog before she used it on herself Sunday afternoon. Both the dog and McCready were found dead on the porch of her home in Heber Springs.
After rising to fame with hit singles like "Guys Do It All the Time" and her award-winning debut album "Ten Thousands Angels" in 1996, the country star's life became a downward spiral fueled by substance abuse, an abusive relationship and an ongoing custody battle with her mother over her son.
In 2009, she enrolled in "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew," a VH1 reality series starring addiction medicine specialist Dr. Drew Pinksy which films celebrities in a recovery center. In the last two years, four other "Celebrity Rehab" patients have also died from suicide or drug overdose. The show has been criticized for putting more focus on entertainment rather than helping stars break their addictions.
Dr. Drew released a statement in regard to McCready's death saying that she was "devastated" after her boyfriend and child's father committed suicide just last month, and adding that she was "fearful of stigma and ridicule." His statement reads:
"I am deeply saddened by this awful news. My heart goes out to Mindy's family and children. She is a lovely woman who will be missed by many. Although I have not treated her for a few years, I had reached out to her recently upon hearing about the apparent suicide of her boyfriend and father of her younger children. She was devastated. Although she was fearful of stigma and ridicule she agreed with me that she needed to make her health and safety a priority. Unfortunately it seems that Mindy did not sustain her treatment.
Mental health issues can be life threatening and need to be treated with the same intensity and resources as any other dangerous potentially life threatening medical condition. Treatment is effective. If someone you know is suffering please be sure he or she gets help and maintains treatment."