Melanie Rauscher, a former contestant on Discovery Channel’s reality series “Naked and Afraid,” was reportedly found dead on July 17 in Prescott, Arizona. She was 35.
Corey Kasun, a representative of the Prescott Police Department, confirmed to TMZ that the reality star was a dog who sat in town while the homeowners were out of town. On their return, they found Rauscher dead in their guest room, near several cans of compressed air dust cleaner.
It remains unclear whether Rauscher consumed the contents of the cans.
Police determined there were no signs of malicious intent or drug paraphernalia, the outlet reports, noting that Rauscher left no suicide note and that the dog was fine.
Rauscher was a contestant on “Naked and Afraid” in 2013 and the spin-off show “Naked and Afraid XL” in 2015.
Rauscher’s former castmate and close friend Jeremy McCaa took to Facebook to remember his “swamp wife” and “best friend.”
“She came into my life in a way I can’t explain. We had such a chemistry on the show and it grew into a friendship beyond words can describe. Her smile was unique. Her friendship was great. Even though we weren’t blood, we were family.
“I could always count on her,” he continued. “We had so many moments where we were just there for each other. She was my swamp wife, a best friend, a strong woman, a wonderful person and I will always cherish our moments together. You left us too soon and taken from us too soon. You will always be my Mel.”
He concluded his post by saying “I love you” to his late friend.
‘I’ll see you again one day. The world lost a great person. Keep her family and friends in your prayers. Goodbye, my queen.”