December 23, 2023: Tragedy struck the Carter family once again as Bobbie Jean Carter, sister to Nick and the late Aaron Carter, was discovered unresponsive in the bathroom of her Florida home. The Hillsborough Sheriff’s department confirmed the incident, revealing that Carter was immediately transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead at the age of 41.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has initiated a death investigation, revealing that Carter was on probation for cocaine possession at the time of her death. While her roommates claimed she had not used narcotics since her release from prison, where she was held from late September to early November, authorities found no signs of foul play or narcotics in Carter’s bedroom or bathroom.
Despite initial reports that Carter’s daughter, Bella, was in the care of her grandmother, a family source exclusively informed PEOPLE that she is currently staying with an aunt — her late father’s sister. Authorities stayed with Bella, age 8, until her next of kin arrived from Orlando.
In a statement to TMZ, Carter’s mother, Jane, expressed shock at the sudden death of her daughter, reflecting on the family’s tragic history with the losses of Aaron in November 2022 and Leslie in 2012.
“I am in shock from learning of the sudden death of my daughter, Bobbie Jean, and I will need time to process the terrible reality of this happening for the third time,” Jane Carter said.
The family believes that Bobbie Jean’s death may have resulted from cardiac arrest, and the official cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office. This tragic incident follows Bobbie Jean’s arrest in June, where she faced charges of retail theft and possession of fentanyl after allegedly stealing stickers and markers from a Hobby Lobby.
As the Carter family navigates this devastating loss, they continue to grapple with the memories of Aaron’s accidental drowning in November 2022. Sources close to the family emphasize that Bobbie Jean’s passing adds another layer of sorrow to the already grief-stricken family.
