Naked and Afraid contestant Melanie Rauscher died suddenly while she was dog sitting at a home in Prescott, Arizona on July 17. She was 35.
The owners, who were away on vacation, returned home in the afternoon of July 17 to find Rauscher dead in the guest bedroom, Corey Kasun, a representative for the Prescott Police Department, told TMZ.
Police reportedly found no drug paraphernalia, suicide note, or obvious signs of foul play. However, several cans of compressed air were found around Rauscher’s body.
Rauscher starred in the hit Discovery Channel survival show, Naked and Afraid, appearing on Season 7 in 2017 and Season 4 of the spin-off, Naked and Afraid XL.
In a statement to People, fellow Naked and Afraid co-star, Jeremy McCaa, said, “We just clicked from the moment we met. She was like the sister I never had; our relationship became like siblings and we shared a special bond. She always put other people before herself. She was really well loved in the Naked and Afraid community. Everyone will miss her.”
McCaa further remembered Rauscher in a Facebook post writing, “We had so many moments when we would just be there for each other. She was my swamp wife, a best friend, a strong woman, an amazing person and I’ll always cherish our moments together. You’re gone too soon and taken from us too early. You’ll always be my Mel. I love you and I’ll see you again one day. The world lost an amazing person.”
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rauscher served the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt CVN-17 during the Iraq War. At the time of her passing, she was employed by the Prescott VA Medical Center.
The “avid outdoor enthusiast,” as remembered in her obituary, “loved camping & hiking and finding adventure wherever she could.”
The obituary went on to describe her as “a diehard Eagles fan. She was a natural comedian, and her wit was unmatched. Melanie’s boisterous laugh will echo in the hearts and minds of her loved ones forever.”
Rauscher is survived by parents Daniel T. and Catherine A. Rauscher (née Weissman) and sisters Jeanette, Rebecca, and Alexis, as well as niece Aria and nephew Liam Parker.
