New details are emerging in the death of 34-year-old singer Aaron Carter, who was reportedly found unresponsive in his bathtub Saturday morning.
Carter’s housekeeper reportedly made a frantic 911 call when she found her boss in a “tub,” according to audio clips obtained by TMZ.
A 911 operator is heard saying FIRE/EMS units are needed at Carter’s home, referring to a “female yelling” and someone “in the tub,” the report outlined.
“I’m calling about Aaron,” another woman calling 911 about Carter said. “I was just calling to see if there’s any way you guys could send an officer to go check on him?” The same caller noted Carter was a “heavy drug user,” expressing concern that something might be wrong.
Neighbor and local photojournalist Anthony Cheval told The Sun (U.S.) he heard a call about Carter on a police scanner and rushed over with his wife, a nurse.
“I have a police scanner for work and heard the call come in that there was an unresponsive male in the bathtub,” Cheval explained. “My wife is a nurse and we headed over and banged on the door, she had her AED [automated external defibrillator] with her.”
“A woman answered the door and was screaming ‘he’s dead, he’s dead’ but wouldn’t let us in because she’d already called the cops,” the neighbor added.
Cheval said he spoke to Melanie Martin, Carter’s on-and-off fiancée and mother to his son Prince, outside the home.
“Melanie drove up from Orange County, she was distraught,” Cheval recalled.
“My fiancé Aaron Carter has passed away,” Martin said in a statement to TMZ following the loss. “I love Aaron with all my heart and it’s going to be a journey to raise a son without a father. Please respect the privacy of my family as we come to terms with the loss of someone we love greatly. We are still in the process of accepting this unfortunate reality. Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated.”
Carter had a history of drug and mental health-related problems and run-ins with the law.
In September, the former reality star revealed he had “voluntarily” checked himself into an out-patient program at a rehabilitation center, Page Six reports. The singer-turned-rapper was fighting for custody of his 11-month-old son.
Carter is survived by his son Prince and other family members, including his brother Nick Carter, of “Backstreet Boys” fame.