Death certificate for child star Sophie Nyweide reveals heartbreaking detail

Sophie Nyweide's death certificate has revealed a heartbreaking detail about her condition when she passed away.

Former child star Sophie Nyweide (pictured here in 2007) has died at the age of 24. Credit: Philip Cheung/Getty Images

Nyweide was found in the early hours of April 14 on a riverbank behind a high school in Bennington, Vermont. She was declared dead at 4:53AM, per the Daily Mail.

Her death is currently under investigation, with a report from the Bennington Police Department describing it as a “possible unintentional overdose.”

Her mother, Shelly Gibson, has spoken out about the loss, revealing Sophie had been “using drugs” and was “self-medicating” to cope with deep-seated trauma.

“RIP, my Sophie. She graced us for far too short a time. My daughter was a light for all who met her. For those us of who were truly close with Sophie, we are gutted and will need a long time to get over her passing. I know I never will. God I love my daughter. I want her back. Fly high sweetheart — you always could.”

Nyweide at the Mammoth premiere in 2009. Credit: camilla morandi/Corbis via Getty Images

The US Sun, which obtained the actress’s death certificate, revealed that Nyweide was “pregnant at the time of death.”

A representative from the Vermont Department of Health corroborated: “This individual was pregnant at the time of death.”

Despite an impressive career, Nyweide battled personal demons. Her family shared in her obituary: “Sophie was a kind and trusting girl. Often this left her open to being taken advantage of by others. She wrote and drew voraciously, and much of this art depicts the depth she had, and it also represents the pain she suffered.

“Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas. Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses and her own revelations, those closest to her, plus therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her, are heartbroken their efforts couldn’t save her from her fate.”

The young star's family has paid tribute. (Nyweide pictured here in 2007) Credit: Scott Wintrow/Getty Images for NYILFF

In one heartbreaking detail, they revealed that Sophie would “handle it” herself, often rejecting treatments that might have helped: “She repeatedly said she would ‘handle it’ on her own and was compelled to reject the treatment that might possibly have saved her life.”

Speaking to TMZ, Nyweide's mother said that she was aware that her daughter was taking drugs.

Shelly said: "My knowledge is she was using drugs and was a tiny young woman. She was with other people when she died. I didn't know them. There is an investigation ongoing. The autopsy results are not in. They said it would take 6-8 weeks. So I can't say definitively."

Nyweide and co-star Eduardo Verastegui on the red carpet in 2007. Credit: Scott Wintrow/Getty Images for NYILFF

Her family described her as “creative, athletic and wise beyond her years,” noting she started snowboarding at age five to follow in the footsteps of her older brother, Huck. “Sophie accomplished so much in the time she danced upon earth — literally — she danced as she moved!”

They added: “Her ‘family’ wasn’t just her immediate family. It also included the families of those closest to her.

“She dreamed (more like demanded!) to be an actor, without ever knowing her mother was an actor, so she did that too with an ease we all marvelled about,” the obituary noted. “She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else.”

“Sophie. A life ended too soon. May it not be in vain. May we all learn from her brief life on earth and do better. Yes, we must all protect our children and do better.”

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to RAINN — the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network — in her memory.

Featured image credit: camilla morandi/Corbis via Getty Images