Aaron Carter’s Death Ruled Accidental, but Family and Friends Demand Further Investigation
Aaron Carter’s Death Ruled Accidental, but Family and Friends Demand Further Investigation
Nearly two years after the singer was found dead in his bathtub at age 34, his mother, partner, and former publicist have raised questions about unidentified people at his home, potential foul play, and an investigation they say was never fully conducted.
Aaron Carter, the former teen pop star and younger brother of Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter, died on Nov. 5, 2022, at his home in Lancaster, California. He was 34. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident, concluding that he drowned after taking Xanax and inhaling difluoroethane — a chemical compound found in cans of compressed air, commonly used for “huffing.” Investigators found multiple compressed air canisters and prescription pills in his bathroom and bedroom, according to reports cited in a recent video commentary.
Despite the official ruling, Carter’s mother, Jane Schneck, has publicly rejected the accident conclusion. In March 2023, she posted six photos from the bathroom where her son was found dead to her personal Facebook page, writing: “Still trying to get a real investigation for the death of my son, Aaron Carter. They never investigated it as a possible crime scene because of his addiction past.” Schneck also alleged that police allowed people to enter and leave the scene without proper controls.
The video commentary, produced by an unidentified YouTube channel, claims that Carter repeatedly begged for help and feared for his life. According to the video, Carter said on livestreams: “If anything happens to me, I promise you I am not entitled.” The video also states that Carter’s former manager, Matthews, recalled Carter saying, “There are people after me. I need help. I need to get out of this town,” and that his house had been for sale for a long time before his death.
Carter’s partner, Melanie Martin, expressed confusion over the circumstances, telling TMZ she found it unusual that Aaron was wearing a t‑shirt and a necklace in the bathtub. More recently, according to the video, Martin claimed she discovered text messages on Aaron’s phone demanding an $800 payment and publicly accused a recording artist and producer known as “Momo” of having “gangsters” supply Aaron with drugs.
The singer’s former publicist, Kelly Kay, told Page Six: “We are glad this case is finally closed so we can have a celebration of life. However, we know two people were at his house leading up to his death and are puzzled as to why those two haven’t been properly identified and/or investigated.” Page Six reported that the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond, but the department previously told Rolling Stone on March 2, 2023: “Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation into the death of Aaron Carter. To date, there has been no evidence of foul play found during the investigation.”
Friends of Carter also questioned the official account. A friend identified as Cassidy, who was close to Carter for the last three years of his life, told Page Six: “How Aaron’s body was found gave me suspicion … Was he paranoid or was he aware?” [Unverified: The article does not specify what about the body’s condition raised suspicion.]
The video commentary ends with several unanswered questions: “What did Aaron Carter know? Why was he paranoid about people being after him? Why was he trying to leave town? And who may have wanted Aaron silenced?” It also references a “Hollywood name” and “what Tom Hanks revealed,” but the video provides no evidence linking Tom Hanks or any other named celebrity to Carter’s death.
The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has not reopened the case. As of this publication, no charges have been filed, and no suspects have been named. Carter’s mother continues to advocate for a new investigation.