Drew Barrymore Half-Sister Dead in Likely Suicide

Jessica Barrymore's body found in car in Calif.
By Jenn Gidman,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 30, 2014 9:17 AM CDT
Drew Barrymore Half-Sister Dead in Likely Suicide
Drew Barrymore arrives at the LA Premiere of "Blended" held at the TCL Chinese Theatre on May 21, 2014, in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Jessica Barrymore, the older half-sister of Drew Barrymore, has been found dead in her car in what appears to be a suicide two days before she would have turned 48, reports ABC San Diego. Neighbor Marta Lopez says Jessica Barrymore's car was blocking her driveway as she tried to head to work yesterday around 6am in National City, Calif.; she says that when she approached, she saw Jessica's body in the driver's seat with an energy drink between her legs and white pills littering the passenger seat. Apparently the Barrymore sisters weren't close, and a rep gives TMZ this statement from Drew Barrymore: "Although I only met her briefly, I wish her and her loved ones as much peace as possible and I'm so incredibly sorry for their loss."

A neighbor says he saw Jessica Barrymore's car the night before when he went out. "Her car was parked right here last night around midnight," Oscar Sandoval says. "I thought she was sleeping or waiting for someone." Jessica Barrymore—who share with Drew a father, actor John Barrymore—had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and had done two stints in rehab as a teenager, reports the Independent. "It's sad to see that," Sandoval says. An official cause of death has not been determined, and an autopsy has not yet been scheduled. (More Drew Barrymore stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X