Aaron Carter dead: Double tragedy as Nick Carter loses second sibling after sister’s 2012 death

The death of Aaron Carter is the second family tragedy to hit Backstreet Boys singer, Nick Carter who also lost his younger sister to a drug overdose in 2012.

The death of former child star Aaron Carter is the second family tragedy to hit Backstreet Boys singer, Nick Carter, who also lost his younger sister, Leslie, to a drug overdose in 2012.

At 11am Saturday local time, the body of Aaron Carter, 34, was discovered by authorities at his Los Angeles home. Police were called to the property after receiving a 911 call with reports that a male had drowned in the bathtub. After reports emerged the former child star had died, his older brother Nick was first to confirm the news via a representative.

The tragedy comes 10 years after the pop star siblings lost their younger sister, for which Nick said he felt blame.

Leslie Carter was just 25 years old at the time.

An incident report obtained after her death revealed police had found three prescription medications near her body. They were Olanzapine (which is used to treat schizophrenia or bipolar disorder), as well as anti-anxiety medication Xanax and muscle relaxant Cyclobenzaprine.

Singers Aaron Carter (left) and Nick Carter (right) in 2006. Picture: Michael Buckner/ Getty Images.

Just as her brothers had publicly battled substance abuse problems, Leslie also struggled with dependency.

Speaking to Oprah in 2016, Aaron said he and Leslie had discussed sending her to rehab in the two weeks before her death – something he said his sister wanted.

“I had just hit my bonus. I got $10,000 the week before Leslie died, and I actually had reached out to her two weeks before that and said, ‘I’m going to get you the money to go to rehab’,” said Aaron, appearing on the Oprah: Where Are They Now? special.

“Out of all the experiences and all the things that happened with my sister’s passing, I just learnt that life means so much to me.

“(It’s) more than just money and fame.”

Leslie Carter and Aaron Carter. Picture: Michael Tran/ FilmMagic.

In March 2022, Aaron also debuted a blue butterfly face tattoo in honour of his younger sister, sharing the brightly coloured ink in an Instagram post.

“I always wanted to make her proud. Leslie I know your in paradise,” he wrote in the caption.

“The things you taught me and your favourite colour being blue you were a Gemini and you were fearless.”

Aaron Carter dedicated a blue butterfly tattoo to his late sister. Picture: Instagram.

Nick: ‘My family blamed me’

In the aftermath of Leslie’s passing, Nick Carter said he didn’t attend Leslie’s funeral, after his relationship with his siblings became “toxic”. He would instead continue to perform on tour, where he dedicated a performance of Falling Down to his sister.

Speaking to Dr Phil while promoting his 2013 memoir, Facing the Music and Living to Talk About It Nick said his family blamed him for Leslie’s death.

“I felt (that) was unfair, especially with all the things I have done,” said Nick. “I love my family like everyone loves their family, but then there comes a point when you have to ask yourself if you’re helping them, or hurting them.”

Promotional material for House of Carters. Leslie is on the right and wears a black T-shirt and jeans. She died of a suspected drug overdose at just 25.

Inside Nick and Aaron’s turbulent relationship

While Aaron first came to fame supporting the Backstreet Boys on tour in 1997, his relationship with Nick was fraught, with their disputes often playing out in the public eye.

In 2019, Nick and Aaron’s sibling Angel was granted a temporary restraining order that meant Aaron had to stay at least 30.4m away from Nick, his family and his Las Vegas home.

Official documents obtained by TMZ showed that around the same time Aaron had admitted to Angel via a FaceTime call that he had thoughts of “killing babies” and murdering Nick’s then-pregnant wife, Lauren Kitt.

“After careful consideration, my sister Angel and I regret that we were required to seek a restraining order against our brother Aaron today,” Nick shared in a tweet.

“In light of Aaron’s increasingly alarming behaviour and his recent confession that he harbours thoughts and intentions of killing my pregnant wife and unborn child, we were left with no choice but to take every measure possible to protect ourselves and our family.”

#mentalhealth#GunControlNow#GunControlpic.twitter.com/q280ClqyjI

— Nick Carter (@nickcarter) September 17, 2019

Days later, Aaron shared tweets that said he had been sexually abused by his younger sister Leslie. The claims were later investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“My sister raped me from the age of 10 to 13 years old when she wasn’t on her medications and I was abused not only sexually by her but by my first two back up dancers when I was 8 years old,” Aaron tweeted in September, 2019.

“And my brother abused me my whole life.”

my sister raped me from the age of 10 to 13 years old when she wasn’t on her medications and I was absused not only sexually by her but by my first two back up dancers when I was 8 years old. And my brother absused me my whole life.

— AARON CARTER (@aaroncarter) September 19, 2019

During Aaron’s life he publicly spoke about his mental ill health battles and substance abuse issues. In 2019, he publicly revealed he had been diagnosed with multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, acute anxiety and manic depression and was being treated with a lengthy list of medications.

Despite the publicised disputes, it appeared Aaron had attempted to reconcile relations with his family. Published just minutes after a spokeswoman for Nick confirmed his brother’s passing, a statement from Aaron’s representation made mention of his family.

“It is with great regret to confirm Aaron Carter was found unresponsive this am in his home in Palmdale, CA,” the spokesperson shared with Page Six.

“The family has been notified and will be flying out to Los Angeles. Aaron worked very hard towards the end of his life in recovery, to be a good father and to make amends with his family.”

Originally published as Aaron Carter dead: Double tragedy as Nick Carter loses second sibling after sister’s 2012 death