It was on November 5, 2022 that American singer Aaron Carter passed away at the age of 34. It was just this April 18, 2023 that details of his death were released. 

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner has officially ruled Aaron’s death an accident. The primary cause given was drowning, with secondary effects of alprazolam and difluoroethane. Alprazolam is sold as Xanax, while difluoroethane is a compressed gas. 

Back in 2022, the coroner initially held off on releasing his cause of death pending a toxicology report. 

According to the statement released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, deputies responded to a 911 call from a residence at around 11 am on November 5, 2022.  At that time, the identity of the man was not released. They did report that it was a housekeeper who called emergency services to say that she found an unresponsive male in the bathtub. The authorities advised the caller to perform CPR while waiting for the first responders. However, the said man was pronounced dead on the scene upon the arrival of the deputies and fire department personnel. 

On the same day, Aaron’s management confirmed the news of his death to the public. 

“It is with deepest regret that Aaron Carter was found unresponsive this a.m. in his home in Palmdale, California,” read the official statement released by his management on the day that Aaron passed away. 

According to his death certificate, Aaron was cremated a few days later, with his ashes left to the care of his twin sister. At that time, his official cause of death was still categorized as deferred.

READ: Aaron Carter dies at 34

Aaron began his career at a young age. He was just nine years old when he went viral in 1997 with his cover performance of “Crush On You”, which was originally a song by The Jets. Aaron went on to perform as the front act for big names in the pop music industry such as the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears. Soon he was no longer just Nick Carter’s younger brother, but a star in his own right. 

Upon Aaron’s death, Nick clarified that he will always love his younger brother. 

“Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never ever faded,” he stated. “I will miss my brother more than anyone will ever know.”

READ: Nick Carter on his brother’s death: ‘Mental illness is the real villain’

Aaron released five studio albums during his lifetime. His first, self-titled album sold a million copies worldwide, while his second album sold thrice that number in the US alone. A final album entitled Blacklisted was released by the producers a couple of days after his death, but was subsequently removed since the release didn’t have the go signal of Aaron’s management. 

Aside from his music career, Aaron also became part of several films, television series, and reality shows. In 2019, he appeared in the health-oriented show The Doctors, where he revealed that he was schizophrenic and bipolar. A couple of years before that, he was advised to go into rehab. While his malnourishment was worrisome, his use of prescription medications benzodiazepines and opiates was also a concern. 

Aaron used to date actress Hillary Duff, who has expressed sympathy over the singer’s death. 

“I’m deeply sorry that life was so hard for you and that you had to struggle in front of the whole world,” said Hillary in her tribute to Aaron. “You had a charm that was absolutely effervescent. Boy, did my teenage self love you deeply.”

“Sending love to your family at this time,” she added. “Rest easy.”

READ: Hilary Duff pens tribute for Aaron Carter: ‘I’m deeply sorry that life was so hard for you’

Aaron had been vocal in wanting to have a family and to be a father. He is survived by his baby son, Prince Lyric Carter, with fiancée Melanie Martin. They got engaged in 2020.