Melanie Rauscher, a “Naked and Afraid” contestant, passed away suddenly on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at the age of 35 in Arizona.
Melanie, who appeared on two seasons of the popular Discovery Channel show, was dog sitting at a home in Prescott, Arizona, while the owners were away on vacation, according to Corey Kasun, a Prescott Police Department representative.
The homeowners returned on the afternoon of July 17 and discovered Melanie dead on the bed in the guest room, according to Kasun.
Several cans of compressed air, which can be used to clean dust off computers, were discovered near her body, according to reports. Melanie may or may not have consumed the contents of the cans.
Melanie’s cause of death will be determined by the Yavapai County Medical Examiner.
Melanie appeared primarily on “Naked and Afraid” in 2013 and the spinoff show “XL” in 2015. Close castmate Jeremy McCaa paid tribute to Melanie on his Facebook page, saying he was “broken.”
A close castmate, Jeremy McCaa, paid tribute on his Facebook page, saying he was “broken.”