What Happened to Aaron Carter?

In the 2000s, pop singer Aaron Carter achieved teenage stardom and achieved success with his hits "I Want Candy" and "Crush on You."

At 34 years old, his sudden passing shocked everyone around the world.

The singer died of a drug overdose

Carter, star of Nickelodeon's House of Carters and multiple appearances on reality shows such as Dancing with the Stars and The Doctors, was an acclaimed musician who struggled with substance abuse issues. He reportedly underwent multiple rehabilitation stints for these issues as well as having mental health issues.

On November 5, 2022, Carter was discovered dead in his bathtub at home in Lancaster, California. His family is now speculating that he died of a drug overdose.

Tuesday afternoon, Melanie Martin and Jane Carter of The Voice shared their theory as to why Carter died from a drug overdose. According to them, the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office ruled out drowning as the cause of death as there was no water in his lungs; therefore, drugs could have been involved instead.

Melanie Martin shared that she discovered text messages between Carter and an unknown individual the night before his passing that revealed he owed $800 for an alleged drug deal. According to Martin, Carter stated he no longer required the substance and had nearly $2,000 left over.

When she alerted law enforcement, officers discovered multiple cans of compressed air in his home along with bottles of prescription pills. His family now wants authorities to look into an alleged drug deal that they believe may have contributed to his passing.

Carter achieved international fame in 1997 at the age of nine when he released his debut album. He toured with his brother Nick Carter (also of Backstreet Boys fame) and appeared on several television shows like Dancing with the Stars or The Doctors. Due to multiple mental health issues, Carter was prescribed medications such as Xanax, Seroquel, gabapentin, hydroxyzine, trazodone, and omeprazole for relief.

He was found dead in a bathtub

On Saturday morning, Aaron Carter, the teenage idol, was discovered unresponsive in his bathtub at home, reports TMZ. Law enforcement officials confirmed to the news outlet that Carter had passed away while unresponsive and homicide detectives were dispatched to investigate but were unable to uncover any signs of foul play.

Carter, born in Tampa, Florida, achieved fame at an early age - selling one million copies of his self-titled debut album by 1997 when he was nine. His second album "Aaron's Party (Come Get It)" tripled this number and led him to becoming a regular on Nickelodeon as a teenager.

His fame only compounded his legal and drug problems, as well as relationship troubles. Over the years, he appeared on 'The Doctors' to discuss his substance abuse problems and attended rehab multiple times.

Carter's death comes as a shock to his fans. He had been open about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, often appearing under the influence in disturbing live streams.

At 34 years old, he passed away, and now his family is grieving. His fiancee Melanie Martin and mother Jane Carter have spoken out, sharing details about his last days.

A woman reported finding him in his bathtub with jets still running. She called 911 to report the situation, and authorities arrived at his Lancaster home around 11 AM.

Homicide detectives were dispatched to the scene of the incident, but were unable to uncover any foul play or signs of suicide. They are currently waiting on results of toxicology tests to uncover what occurred, and will be in contact with Carter's family regarding their next steps.

Police reported the water had a "decomposition smell," as well as taken on an unusual color. While exact timing of Carter's stay in the tub remains unknown, investigators do believe it to have been some time.

Carter suffered from an addiction to marijuana and displayed erratic behavior, including begging people for help at rehab. Additionally, he had an underlying mental health issue which caused him to get suicidal at times. It's reported that Carter asked friends for Xanax in livestreams; there are reports of him asking his brother Nick for it too.

He was arrested for DUI

On Saturday night, Carter, the younger brother of Backstreet Boys singer Nick Carter, was arrested in Georgia for driving under the influence. This occurred as he and his girlfriend were stopped at an Auto Zone in Cornelia to have their car aligned.

According to TMZ, Carter was stopped by police along Georgia 385 near Carpenters Cove while driving a white Chevrolet Suburban that didn't have tags. He was asked to get out of the vehicle and take a sobriety test.

Deputy Holcomb reported witnessing body tremors in Carter's legs and arms as well as eyelid tremors in both eyes. During a search of the vehicle, a clear baggie with what appeared to be marijuana was discovered in its center console, according to Holcomb's report.

Holcomb reported that another individual in the car was arrested for drug possession and obstruction; she is identified in the report as Madison Parker, Carter's girlfriend.

At the start of the incident, a 911 lookout called for an intoxicated driver and reported that their vehicle was "driving all over the road, running into the median," Holcomb reported to ET. He then saw the vehicle pull into a parking lot at an auto parts store where Carter got out of his car to investigate.

He was then strip searched by a female sheriff's deputy, who discovered an unlit marijuana cigarette during the search. Ultimately, both parties were released on bail after posting bail.

Aaron Carter's attorney claims he was "targeted" for arrest due to his fame and ability to drive erratically, TMZ reports. According to Carter, his car swerved because it wasn't aligned, not because he was drunk or high.

However, the Habersham County sheriff's office disputes this assertion and points to audio from the 911 call as proof that Carter was driving erratically. They also assert that Carter could not perform the field sobriety test correctly, taking several steps off line while swaying.

In 2017, the pop star, now 33 years old, struck a plea deal with prosecutors that spared him jail time. As part of his probationary period, he must complete 40 hours of community service work, attend DUI risk reduction classes and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

He was allegedly molested by his sister

Aaron Carter was a pop star whose career was marked by mental health issues, substance abuse issues and public family feuds. His brother Nick Carter, another Backstreet Boy, also struggled with substance abuse issues as well as being accused of domestic violence.

Aaron was a child star who began his singing career when he was 13 years old in 2001. His debut album "Oh, Aaron" followed shortly thereafter, with his first single "Son of a Gun" released two years later in 2002. Touring around the world with his brothers and sisters followed but eventually Aaron found himself broke and had to file for bankruptcy in 2013.

Aaron became addicted to drugs, including marijuana, cocaine and Xanax. According to The Doctors, Aaron was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety.

He was taking medications such as Xanax, Seroquel and Gabapentin for sleep problems. Additionally, he took Suboxone to help him fall asleep at night.

Angel, Bobbie Jean and Leslie were reportedly aware that Aaron was a bulimic who was engaged in an unhealthy cycle of self-destructive behavior. They expressed worry that their younger sibling might attempt suicide, according to TMZ.

Aaron revealed his mental illness only in 2019, revealing false allegations against his sister Leslie before she passed away from a drug overdose in 2012. He accused her of sexually abusing him from 10 to 13 years old.

Aaron also alleges his brother Nick Carter sexually abused him. Although the pop star has been receiving treatment and taking anti-depressants, there are still reports of psychiatric instability in his mental state.

The Carter family was a tragic example of how celebrity can create an incredibly dysfunctional family dynamic. House of Carters, which aired in the mid-2000s, documented their dysfunctional relationship as they dealt with both fame and financial difficulties.

The brothers engaged in several public fights that eventually led them to seek restraining orders against each other. Their mother was reported as fearful of them as well. Nick, an alcoholic, was accused of harassment and assault by some of his younger siblings.