We previously reported that the former child star Michelle Trachtenberg of Harriet The Spy and Gossip Girl fame was tragically found dead by her mother on Wednesday morning at the age of 39.
Her cause of death is unknown, though fans had previously expressed concern for her health for many months leading up to her death.
Now, Trachtenberg’s family has taken drastic action to ensure that her official cause of death will never be known.
Trachtenberg’s Family Objects To An Autopsy
Trachtenberg’s family officially objected to an autopsy being performed on her body. Thus, her cause of death has been ruled “undetermined.”
“Under public health law, families may object to autopsy based on religious belief, and provided there is no suspicion of criminality or compelling public health reason to proceed with autopsy, the medical examiner honors the objection,” a rep for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in New York told Page Six.
New York City’s medical examiner’s office conducted an external examination on Trachtenberg. However, given the family’s objection to an autopsy, it is highly unlikely that any further testing will be done.
Trachtenberg was found dead by her mother Lana at around 8am on Wednesday. Her body was discovered at her New York City apartment at One Columbus Place in Columbus Circle. When NYPD officers and paramedics rushed to the scene, they found Trachtenberg “unconscious and unresponsive.” She was soon pronounced dead at the scene.
Find out more about this in the video below.
Full Story: Michelle Trachtenberg Of ‘Harriet The Spy’ And ‘Gossip Girl’ Dies At 39
Trachtenberg’s Health Issues
Meanwhile, It has since been reported that Trachtenberg had recently gotten a liver transplant after struggling with alcohol for years. Her friend Amanda de Cadenet, a photographer and media personality, took to social media after her passing to claim that Trachtenberg “knew that death was a high possibility” in the final months of her life.
“Sweetheart Michelle,” de Cadenet wrote on Instagram in the caption of a photo she took of Trachtenberg seemingly during the actress’ teen years. “What sad news this morning to wake up to. It feels weird and awful to be posting this, but I want to acknowledge your death because I cared about you.”
“I will always remember you as the young vivacious woman I met when I took this photo of you … and seeing your face from the hospital bed when we FaceTimed recently, even though you did not look like you, your sweetness and humor were still alive,” she continued. “I will not share the details of our conversations over the last six months, but you knew that death was a high possibility and I am only sorry that the outcome was not a better one.”
Trachtenberg Hit Back At Her ‘Haters’
Trachtenberg herself never spoke out about her health issues. However, fans had been worried about her for quite some time after she posted photos of herself to social media in which she looked relatively thin and gaunt. In January of 2024, she fired back at social media users who were claiming that she looked “sick.”
“Explain to me how I look sick,” Trachtenberg wrote at the time. “Did you lose a calendar and not realize I’m not 14. I’m 38. How sad for you to leave such a comment.”
“I’ve received several comments recently about my appearance. I have never had plastic surgery I am happy and healthy. Check yourself haters,” she later added. In a third post, she wrote, “Fun fact. This is my face. Not malnutrition no problems. Why do you have you hate? Get a calendar.”
Though it may surprise some that Trachtenberg’s family has objected to an autopsy, perhaps they are trying to protect her privacy one last time. In the end, it seems that Trachtenberg’s family likely knows exactly how she died. Instead of confirming this through an autopsy that would undoubtedly leak to the press, they seem to want to just allow Trachtenberg to rest in peace. In the end, we can’t blame them for that.
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