Discovered drowned in Lancaster home
Singer Aaron Carter accidentally drowned in the bathtub of his Lancaster home when he became incapacitated from the use of a chemical inhalant and a depressant, according to a coroner's report released this week.
Carter, 34, was pronounced dead at his home in the 42000 block of Valley Vista Drive on Nov. 5.
According to an autopsy report released Tuesday, his death was ruled an accident, and noted that he had difluoroethane and alprazolam in his system. The pop star also had antihistamine and “quetiapine metabolites'' in his system, but they weren't contributors to his death, according to the report.
Difluoroethane is a gas used in air-spray cleaners, but it can “induce feelings of euphoria'' when inhaled, according to the coroner's report. Alprazolam has depressant effects on the central nervous system, which can induce drowsiness and sedation.
“Based on the autopsy findings, investigative reports, and circumstances, as currently known, Mr. Carter became incapacitated while in the bathtub due to the effects of inhaling compressed gas and taking alprazolam,'' according to the report. “This resulted in him becoming submerged underwater, unable to breathe, and ultimately led to his death.''
Carter–a singer, rapper and former teen heartthrob–was the younger brother of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter. He opened for the famous boy band in the late 1990s as well as for Britney Spears during her “Oops!…I Did It Again Tour.''
Born in Tampa, Fla., Carter sold a million copies of his self-titled debut album in 1997 at age 9, which featured the hit single “Crush on You.'' His September 2000 follow-up “Aaron's Party (Come Get It)'' sold three times that amount in the United States alone and was certified triple-Platinum. In addition to the title track, it also featured the hits “I Want Candy,'' and “That's How I Beat Shaq.''
His third album, “Oh Aaron'', went platinum in 2001, and Carter had released two since then, most recently “Love'' in 2018.
A new album, titled “Blacklisted'' had been set for release on Dec. 7, which would have been Carter's 35th birthday, but it was released early following his death.
Recent years saw him in the news for myriad legal, drug and relationship troubles as well as his estrangement from brother Nick and other relatives.
During a 2019 TV interview, Carter discussed his battles with mental health issues, saying he suffered from multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety and manic depression.
