LOS ANGELES, CA. (THECOUNT) — Stefanie Sherk, model and the wife of Oscar-nominated actor Mexican TV and film actor Demian Bichir, committed suicide 2 days into detoxing from Xanax and Lunesta, which had reportedly become ineffective sleep aids.
Sherk, 43, was sleeping just 2 hours a night while detoxing off anxiety meds before she took her own life April 12, TMZ reported. She was found by Bichir at the bottom of the family pool with weights strapped to her arms and legs.
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Efforts were made to resuscitate her, however, she died in a hospital 8 days later.
According to L.A. County Coroner, Sherk was 2 days into detoxing from Xanax at the time of her death but was also suffering crippling insomnia due to her sleep aid, Lunesta, which had lost its efficacy.
The Coroner says she also had a history of depression and experienced “recent suicidal ideations.”
Sherk’s depression got worse at the end of 2018 following the deaths of her grandmother and her dog. She reportedly called a friend just 9 days before her suicide and described how she wanted to kill herself … but the friend talked her out of it and notified the family, reports TMZ.
Days after Sherk’s death, Bichir wrote on social media:
“It is with inconceivable pain that I announce that on April 20, 2019, our dearest Stefanie Sherk, my beloved and loving wife, passed away peacefully. It has been the saddest and toughest time of our lives and we don’t know how much time it will take for us to overcome this pain. Stefanie’s beautiful, angelical and talented presence will be immensely missed.”
Bichir played Fidel Castro in “Che” and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in “A Better Life.”
The Coroner’s report ultimately revealed Sherk’s cause of death was “the result of the effect of lack of oxygen, mainly on the brain, produced by a purposeful drowning episode.”