"The Bachelor" Star Gia Allemand Dies at 29
Aug 14, 2013
by Robyn Ross


Former "Bachelor" and "Bachelor Pad" star Gia Allemand has died, TVGuide.com has confirmed. She was 29.

Allemand died on Wednesday following an apparent suicide attempt on Monday. Due to a critical loss of brain and organ function, she was taken off life support Wednesday, according to her rep.



Allemand was surrounded by her mother, lifelong friends and her longtime boyfriend, NBA player Ryan Anderson. Anderson discovered Allemand on Monday and called 911. Emergency crews were quickly dispatched to the scene and she was subsequently taken to University Hospital in New Orleans.

On Tuesday, she remained in the hospital unconscious in critical condition and on life support with her mother and Anderson by her side.



"Loved ones and fans will remember Gia Allemand as a caring woman who loved her family and was well-known for her compassion towards animals and mission to rescue homeless pets," her rep said in a statement. "On behalf of the family, we sincerely ask for privacy at this time."







Allemand appeared on Season 14 of the ABC show, during which she competed for Jake Pavelka's heart and came in third place.

"I am in complete shock and devastated to hear the news about Gia. She was one of the sweetest people I have ever known," Pavelka tweeted on Wednesday. "And a very dear friend. My heart goes out to her family during this very difficult time. We have lost an angel today. I miss you Gia."



She then appeared on the first two seasons of "Bachelor Pad".

"The entire Bachelor family is tremendously saddened by the tragic passing of our friend, Gia. She was truly a sweet and generous soul. This is a devastating loss for anyone who ever knew her," series creator and executive producer Mike Fleiss said in a statement.







Allemand most recently had been working as a Pure Barre instructor in New Orleans, where she lived with Anderson, who plays for the New Orleans Pelicans.

"I'm deeply grateful for all the love and support we have received from family, friends and fans. Gia was the most beautiful person I knew inside and out and she always smiled and made everyone else around her smile," Anderson said in a statement.

"She had such an amazing impact on my life and anyone that knew her was blessed. All I have left is to cherish those memories we made together and help perpetuate the many values, faith and love that we shared."



Funeral arrangements are forthcoming.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Gia-Allemand-Dies-1069196.aspx

How awful. :(

This is such devastating news. She seemed like such a sweet person. She had her whole life ahead of her. Tragic.

:rip: Gia Allemand

http://www.tmz.com/2013/08/20/gia-allemand-suicide-ryan-anderson-vacuum-cord-note/2/#comments-anchor

Gia Allemand
Boyfriend Said 'I Don't Love You Anymore'
Exclusive

"Bachelor" contestant Gia Allemand had a fight with her boyfriend hours before she killed herself, and he told her "I don't love you anymore."

Gia had accused NBA basketball player Ryan Anderson of being unfaithful during lunch the day she died. During the ride back to her house -- where they stopped at a Walgreens to get her NyQuil -- Gia told Ryan she still loved him but then he dropped the bombshell about his feelings.

We broke the story ... Gia hanged herself in her New Orleans home. According to official docs -- obtained by TMZ -- Gia used a vacuum cleaner cord to end her life. It was tied to the center section of her spiral staircase and tied to the handrail on the second floor.


It appears Gia was on the phone with her mom when she hanged herself. Her mom told cops during the call the phone "had gone silent" and the mother tried in vain to communicate with her for 10 minutes.

Ryan went back to the house to check on Gia, and found her sitting on the stairs with the cord "wrapped around her neck many times." She had been without oxygen for 30-40 minutes.

Gia left a suicide note on the dining room table and in it left all of her property to her mother.

"Bachelor" Contestant Gia Allemand's Boyfriend Breaks Silence After Her Death (Video)
10/1/2013
by Hilary Lewis


The boyfriend of former "Bachelor" contestant Gia Allemand has spoken out for the first time since her shocking death this summer.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson spoke publicly for the first time as part of the team's media day on Monday. Anderson found Allemand after she attempted suicide and tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate her. She died the next day, after being taken off life support.



Anderson wept as he talked to The Times-Picayune about how his faith and friends are helping him cope with his loss.

"Something like that just doesn't happen for no reason, and I know that ... there's ... a huge plan here…" he told the newspaper before his voice faded and he began to cry.







Anderson also indicated that he's in the process of starting a foundation with Allemand's family to help people in similar situations.

"A lot of people are going to be helped from this. And ... we're in the process of starting something great for her with her family, including my family, too," he said.

"We have a huge plan to do something great, great in her name that's going to help a lot of people...We live in a society now where you've got to live up to something, you've got to be a certain person and you're not going to be accepted and every single person, every single person has something special about them…

I don't want to get into too much detail about her foundation, but it's going to be something great to prove that, to show people that they're not alone."







Anderson's teammates and coaches have supported him since Allemand's death and he's sought out counseling.

Anderson admitted that every day is a challenge, but his faith is helping him, as is being on a routine with the team. "I praise God every day to have Him in my life. It would be very, very hard to get through these steps if I didn't have God and Jesus Christ in my life," he said.

"I'm really glad coach asked me to come back when he did. I've been here for a few weeks now and just being around the guys and being back in the gym, having some sort of routine back, it helps a little bit."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bachelor-contestant-gia-allemands-boyfriend-639941