Ashley Mattingly’s cause of death reveals former Playboy Playmate, 33, shot herself in the head in tragic suicide – The US Sun
Olivia Shea
Published Aug 26, 2026
PLAYBOY Playmate Ashley Mattingly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to a report.
A medical examiner has determined that Mattingly placed a handgun in her mouth and pulled the trigger, TMZ revealed.
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The body of the 33-year-old model was found in her Texas home in April.
The autopsy also noted that she had drugs in her system when she died.
She had “struggled with substance abuse," but her family told The Sun after her death that she was determined to “get her life on track."
Twin brother William told The Sun in April that Ashley kept "a lot of her life private."
“We could have done more," he said.
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"It’s easy knowing that now with all the clues brought to light.
"So we can let people know to check on there loved ones and try and be there. Ashley was reaching out.”
He said that his sister “really just wanted to get her life on track.”
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William and sister Christy Deweese said in a statement that Ashley "will continue to live on through nieces whom she loved dearly and always thought of no matter how far away she was."
The siblings added: "We will forever cherish her memories and know that her joy is eternally sealed."
"We look forward to seeing her again."
Ashley was working on getting better while living in Austin for the last two years, her family said.
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Loved ones said she struggled while dealing with stay-at-home restrictions brought on by the coronavirus outbreak.
Ashley was Playboy's Miss March in 2011 and also served as a spokesperson for a lingerie-inspired swimwear company.
Former boyfriend Lane Garrison was convicted of hitting her in 2012 after video surfaced of the incident.
