Gia Allemand Died In A Suicide By Hanging; Ex-Boyfriend Wes Hayden Says She 'Just Wanted To Be Loved'

Gia Allemand, who appeared on season 14 of The Bachelor, died on Wednesday at the age of 29. It has since been determined that Gia’s cause of death was suicide by hanging.

Allemand’s surviving boyfriend, New Orleans Pelicans player Ryan Anderson, arrived home on Monday to find her hanging and unconscious. He then immediated dialed 911. After arriving at the hospital, Allemand was placed on life support and listed as being in critical condition. On Wednesday, Allemand’s family released a statement confirming that she had passed away.

“Due to a critical loss of brain and organ function, life support was withdrawn today,” the statement read. “Ms. Allemand passed away peacefully with her mother, boyfriend, and other lifelong friends by her side. As a practicing Christian, Gia did receive the sacrament of last rites."

"Loved ones and fans will remember Gia Allemand as a caring woman who loved her family and was well-known for her compassion towards animals and mission to rescue homeless pets," the statement continued. "Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming in another official statement once available. On behalf of the family, we sincerely ask for privacy at this time.”

_{Gia Allemand and Ryan Anderson}

Anderson, who is said to have been in a rocky relationship with Allemand, released a statement of his own following the announcement of her death. "After thanking everyone for their support and love while Gia remained in the hospital, he stated, “Gia was the most beautiful person I knew inside and out, and she always smiled and made everyone else around her smile… All I have left is to cherish those memories we made together and help perpetuate the many values, faith and love that we shared.”

Wes Hayden, who dated Allemand following their stint on Bachelor Pad, expressed his own heartbreak at hearing of her death. “I haven’t slept in probably two days. It’s horrible,” Hayden told Access Hollywood Live. “Anytime that you have a relationship with somebody, especially an intimate relationship and you’re great friends, it’s tough to hear about it.” He went on to shed some light on why Allemand may have chosen to try to end her life. “Gia was pretty sensitive. She had a great and sensitive heart," he said.

“I think she really wanted to kind of step away and have like, a real life, get married,” Hayden continued. “I think that’s what she was after – not necessarily the fame from The Bachelor. I think she just genuinely wanted to be loved, to get married, to have a life, to have kids. I can’t believe what’s happened.”

– Chelsea Regan

Get Uinterview's FREE iPhone App For Daily News Updates here.

Get the FREE Uinterview iPad app here and watch our videos anywhere.