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Bobbie Jean Carter’s tragic cause of death at 41 revealed

The Carter sister suffered the same fate as her siblings Aaron and Leslie

Faye James
Senior Editor
February 13, 2024
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Bobbie Jean Carter, at the age of 41, tragically passed away due to an overdose of fentanyl and methamphetamine in December 2023. 

The discovery of Bobbie Jean unresponsive in her Tampa, Florida home's bathroom led first responders to rush her to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The mother of one, Bella, aged eight, Bobbie Jean was navigating life post-incarceration for cocaine possession. 

Despite reports from roommates claiming she had abstained from narcotics since her release, her untimely death tells a different story. 

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner in Florida, as reported by TMZ, confirmed that a mix of fentanyl and methamphetamine intoxication was the cause, deeming the incident accidental.

Angel Carter, Aaron Carter and Bobbie Jean Carter   © John Shearer
Angel Carter, Aaron Carter and Bobbie Jean Carter

This heartbreaking event marks the third loss in the Carter family, following the deaths of Aaron Carter in 2022 at 34 and Leslie Carter in 2012 at 25, both also due to overdoses.

Fentanyl, a substance initially crafted for cancer patient pain relief in the 1950s, has seen its shadow stretch across America, contributing to an alarming spike in overdose fatalities. 

Bobbie Jean Carter is seen in a booking photo following her arrest for theft and possession of a controlled substance © Handout
Bobbie Jean Carter is seen in a booking photo following her arrest for theft and possession of a controlled substance

With potency so high that a mere two milligrams can prove fatal, its integration into various street drugs has propelled overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids to unprecedented levels, profoundly impacting the nation's life expectancy.

Bobbie Jean's final farewell took place in a modest, private ceremony outside Tampa, attended by close family and friends. 

Nick Carter with his sister Bobbie Jean Carter in a childhood photo© Instagram
Nick Carter with his sister Bobbie Jean Carter in a childhood photo

Nick Carter, her brother and a member of the Backstreet Boys, expressed his profound sorrow over the loss, stating on Instagram his struggle to comprehend the family's repeated tragedies.

"It may take a lifetime to fully process the loss my family has endured over the years – most recently, with the sudden passing of our sister Bobbie Jean. I'm completely heartbroken," he wrote. 

Bobbie Jean Carter, Nick Carter, Leslie Carter, Angel Carter, and Aaron Carter arrive at the Style Network Party At The Summer TCA Tour on July 11, 2006 in Pasadena, California.© Getty Images
Bobbie Jean Carter, Nick Carter, Leslie Carter, Angel Carter, and Aaron Carter

Following Bobbie Jean's death, her daughter Bella has been placed under the care of her grandmother, Jane Schneck. In a statement to TMZ, Jane expressed her devastation:

 "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. However deeply a parent feels the loss of a child, the suffering of a young child at the loss of a parent must be much greater. So, I would ask the sympathetic to say a prayer for my precious eight-year-old granddaughter Bella, who previously lost her father and is now also left without her mother."

Bobbie Jean, once known for her role in the 2006 reality show House of Carters, along with her siblings Aaron and Leslie, faced challenges with substance abuse. Aaron's life ended in an accidental drowning influenced by substance use, while Leslie succumbed to a drug overdose.

Earlier in the year, Bobbie Jean faced legal troubles following a shoplifting incident, during which she also exhibited signs of distress. This incident highlighted the ongoing struggles she faced, culminating in her tragic end.

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