BENNINGTON, Vt. (KTLA) — New details have emerged surrounding the death of former child actress Sophie Nyweide.
Her family announced the loss with a paid online obituary that said Nyweide, 24, “self-medicated to deal with all the trauma and shame she held inside, and it resulted in her death” on April 14.
Authorities did not immediately release information about the cause of the “Mammoth” star’s passing. However, a press release issued Wednesday by police in Vermont – Nyweide’s home state – said a person who was with Nyweide called 911 to report her being unresponsive around 4 a.m. on April 14.
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First responders rushed to a wooded area along the banks of the Roaring Branch River in Bennington and attempted lifesaving measures. Nyweide was pronounced dead at the scene less than an hour after the call to police went out, authorities said.
“An individual was present with Nyweide at the time of her death and they are cooperating with investigators,” Bennington police said. “The same individual was the person who contacted 911, summoning assistance for Nyweide.”
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Sophie Nyweide attends the press conference for ‘Mammoth’ as part of the 59th Berlin Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 8, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Getty Image) -
Sophie Nyweide attends the press conference for ‘Mammoth’ as part of the 59th Berlin Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 8, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Getty Image) -
Sophie Nyweide attends the press conference for ‘Mammoth’ as part of the 59th Berlin Film Festival at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on February 8, 2009 in Berlin, Germany. (Getty Image) -
Actress Sophie Nyweide during a press conference for the competition movie “Mammoth” at the Berlinale in Berlin, Germany Feb. 8, 2009.
A cause of death was not released, but police said they are investigating Nyweide’s death as a “possible unintentional overdose.”
TMZ, citing the death certificate they obtained, reported that Nyweide was pregnant when she died; however, authorities did not mention her being pregnant.
According to Nyweide’s IMDb page, her first role came in the 2006 film “Bella,” and later in her career, she starred in films like “Mammoth” and “An Invisible Sign.” In 2014, she starred in “Noah,” and her last credit was appearing as herself in ABC’s “What Would You Do?”
Nyweide’s mother is Shelly Gibson, who starred in “All My Children,” “Dust to Malibu,” and “St. Elsewhere.”
In lieu of flowers, her family has asked that a donation be made to the nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization RAINN in Sophie’s name.