Very sad news to update today … Yesterday we learned the tragic news that Leslie Carter, sister of popstars Nick and Aaron Carter, passed away at the far too young age of 25. Today we are learning from the initial police report that Carter died of a drug overdose. Her official cause of death will not be revealed until a full autopsy and toxicology report can be administered but all indications seem to point to an overdose. You may recall that we all got to know Leslie Carter a little bit from her appearance on the short-lived E! reality TV series House of Carters. It’s very, very sad that her real life story had to end so young … and so tragically.

Leslie Carter overdosed and was under the influence of several drugs before her death, according to an incident report obtained by ABCNews.com from officials who responded to her family’s 911 call. The report lists three drugs that were found near Carter: Olanzapine, used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; Cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant; and Alprazolam, used to treat anxiety or panic disorders, also known as Xanax. The report reveals that Ginger Carter, Leslie’s stepmother, told authorities that Leslie had “a long history of mental illness and was on medication for her depression.” Her stepmother said that Leslie seemed depressed the morning of Jan. 30, and that she fell in the shower. Ginger Carter helped Leslie lie down, at first with Leslie’s 10-month-old daughter, and periodically checked on her. Late in the afternoon, she found that Leslie was not breathing. Robert Carter, Leslie’s father, tried to perform CPR on her, and Leslie’s stepmother then called 911. Ginger Carter also appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or both, according to the incident report. “Ginger had slurred speech, pinpoint pupils, glassy eyes and kept falling asleep,” the report states. Ginger Carter told officials that she had taken “five to six pills for her depression,” possibly Xanax, and took more than her usual dose of four “because of Leslie passing away.” Authorities told ABCNews.com that they would try to reinterview Ginger when she is “more alert.” Leslie’s official cause of death will be determined after New York’s Chautauqua County coroner’s office receives toxicology reports in about four to six weeks. Her family will decide whether to release the cause of death publicly. Meanwhile, preparations for her funeral are under way. Leslie Carter will be buried in western New York next week, coroner Richard Mackowiak told ABCNews.com … Leslie Carter, the sister of Backstreet Boys band member Nick Carter and singer Aaron Carter, died Tuesday in New York. She was 25. She leaves behind her husband of three years, Mike Ashton, and her young daughter, Allysa Jane. “Our family is grieving right now, and it’s a private matter,” a representative for the Carters said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened for the loss of our beloved sister, daughter and granddaughter, Leslie Carter.” She appeared on the reality-TV show “House of Carters” in 2006 and achieved some success as a singer. Her song “Like Wow” was included on the soundtrack for the movie “Shrek.”

HMMM. TMZ has a bit of a different report on how Leslie Carter‘s body was found:

Sources close to the “House of Carters” reality star tell TMZ … the 25-year-old sister of Nick Carter had recently moved from Canada to Upstate New York to live with family members while she attempted to kick her addiction. We’re told family members had attempted to rid the home of any prescription medication — including Xanax — and were hopeful Leslie was on the road to recovery. Sources say family members believed Leslie would be OK to stay alone in the home for roughly an hour yesterday while they ran errands … but when they returned, Leslie was unconscious. Officials were called to the scene … but Leslie could not be saved. We’re told Leslie’s 1-year-old daughter was not at home with Carter at the time of her death.

This report is says nothing about her stepmom leaving Leslie to sleep and then finding her not breathing. If stepmom Ginger Carter, who was under the influence of something when she gave her version of events to police, really did leave Leslie alone and then came home to find her unresponsive then that would make more sense to me. No matter how Leslie was found, it’s clear that she lived a very troubled life and battled a lot of demons. It’s so very tragic when anyone dies before their time … 25 years old is far too young. I hope the Carter family is able to heal from this terrible blow. That family has already suffered so much drama in the past decade, Leslie‘s death is just the latest blow for the family riddled with tragedy and heartbreak.

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