Former Playboy playmate Ashley Mattingly has passed away, after taking her own life in her home in Texas last week.
According to celebrity gossip site TMZ, Ashley's relatives, her sister Christy and twin brother Billy, have confirmed that she took her own life last Wednesday, and left a suicide note.
Mattingly, who had reportedly struggled with substance abuse for many years, was found unresponsive by police at her home in the city of Austin after a concerned friend contacted the authorities to check on her after she abruptly dropped contact.
In an official statement, per The Metro, her surviving family wrote: "We learned late Thursday night that it is believed that our dear sister with a larger-than-life personality took her own life. Ashley moved closer to home a couple years ago and was living in Austin. It’s maybe no secret that Ashley struggled with alcohol and substance abuse, but she wanted to and was working to get better."
They continued: "As part of an ongoing investigation the police have notes that we are told she left behind and we are anxious to read them. She leaves behind nieces whom she loved dearly and always thought of no matter how far away she was, a twin brother, two sisters and numerous other friends and family. We will forever cherish her memories and know that her joy is eternally sealed. We look forward to seeing her again.
On Facebook, the model's brother paid tribute to his sibling, uploading a number of pictures of her and writing: "Hey guys [a lot] of people have reached out about my twin and rockstar/BeautyQueen. So i would like to take this time out of [respect] to her friends to let everyone know she has passed away [sic]."
According to The Metro, the model was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for March 2011, but found unwanted notoriety after her then-boyfriend Lane Garrison was convicted of domestic battery.
