Her mother, Shelly Gibson, has revealed in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail that Nyweide’s death occurred on April 14 in her hometown of Bennington, Vermont. Nyweide’s body was found near a high school in Bennington, close to a makeshift lean-to. Police are not ruling out foul play but have not confirmed the cause of death. Gibson suspects an accidental drug overdose, explaining, “I am aware she was using drugs. She had been for quite a while.”
Gibson shared that Nyweide had struggled with addiction, attending multiple treatment centers during her youth. “We did everything we could, but I couldn’t help her once she turned 18,” Gibson said, emphasizing the limitations of legal guardianship as Nyweide entered adulthood. The mother also hinted at a traumatic experience in Nyweide’s childhood, which might have contributed to her struggles. “She was clearly coping with something,” Gibson said, referring to the therapy Nyweide began in sixth grade.
Nyweide’s death occurred while she was with a man, who is cooperating with the investigation but is not considered a suspect. Despite the tragedy, Gibson fondly recalled her daughter as a passionate and driven individual. “Her life was a lot more than just those few years of doing movies,” Gibson added. Nyweide was also an avid snowboarder, competing at Nationals every year and growing up with a love for the sport.
Nyweide’s family paid tribute to her in an obituary, remembering her as a kind and trusting person. Donations were requested in her memory to RAINN, a sexual violence survivors’ charity, which Gibson has supported for many years.