Bobbi Kristina Brown, the daughter of Whitney Houston, has died at the age of 22. A statement from her family confirmed the sad news: "Bobbi Kristina Brown passed away on July, 26 2015 surrounded by her family. She is finally at peace in the arms of God. We want to thank everyone for their tremendous amount of love and support during these last few months."
Bobbi Kristina's father Bobby Brown is said to be "very emotional" following his daughter's passing, but knows "that she is in a better place now", a family friend told People. "He is taking comfort in the fact that she's with her mother, and that there will be no more sadness or pain. She is at peace. He knows that and is taking comfort in that."
© Photo: Getty ImagesBobbi Kristina Brown has tragically passed away at just 22
Bobbi Kristina's death has tragic echoes to Whitney's own untimely passing three years ago.
The 22-year-old had been fighting for her life for six months since being found unconscious in the bathtub – just like the iconic singer.
Bobbi had been receiving hospital treatment after the incident at her home in Atlanta, Georgia on 31 January. She was in a medically induced coma and had been breathing with the aid of a ventilator.
Then on 24 June her family made the heart-rending decision to move her to a hospice, with Whitney's sister-in-law Pat Houston saying: "She is in God's hands now".
While the pop heiress was in the hospice she gained a new sibling when her father's wife Alicia Etheredge gave birth to daughter called Bodhi. The new arrival was the couple's second baby together and the sixth child in all for Bobby.
© Photo: RexBobbi Kristina struggled to come to terms with the death of her mother Whitney Houston
Unfortunately in the last few years of her life, his elder daughter Bobbi was struggling to come to terms with the loss of her mother. Troubled Whitney, who had long battled addiction, died on February 11, 2011 in the run up to the Grammys, leaving her entire estate to her only child.
The aspiring singer, who was known as Krissi to her family, had fought to rebuild her life. In early January this year Bobbi tweeted: "Let's start this career up... and quick" and spoke about how she was due to celebrate her 22nd birthday on 4 March.
She found love with Nick Gordon, a childhood friend, who shared her home in Atlanta. The relationship came under fire because it was believed that Whitney had informally adopted him and Bobbi was forced to defend the romance.
In January 2014, she announced that the pair had married, posting pictures of their "wedding rings", hands entwined. Whitney's daughter constantly tweeted messages of love to "her husband".
© Photo: Getty ImagesNick Gordon has a strained relationship with the Houston family
At Christmas she told followers: "MerryChristmas!! :)(:Snuggling in a beautiful hotelroom with MYbeautiful husband @nickdgordon :)(:Life couldn't be sweeter at the moment!"However, her father Bobbi denied they had ever been married as he kept a vigil beside her bed. He issued a statement through his lawyer to that effect, adding that the family was investigating the circumstances of her death.
Sources then told People that Whitney's sister-in-law Pat had taken out a restraining order against Nick. Pat told police officers that as the executor of the legend's estate she controlled Bobbi Kristina's finances. The couple had requested that Pat increase Krissi's allowance which she refused to do.
She claimed that Nick had made threatening comments against her and harassed her via text. The court order was granted.
© Photo: RexBobbi Kristina with her parents Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown
When Bobbi Kristina was taken to hospital her father banned Nick from her bedside, leading him to go into rehab because he was having panic attacks and suicidal thoughts.
Now the Houston and Brown families must find the courage to say their final farewells to another of their own, gone too soon.
