'Naked And Afraid' Contestant Melanie Rauscher Found Dead, Surrounded By Air Cans

Fans of Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid" recently received a heavy blow with the announcement of the death of former contestant Melanie Rauscher. 35-year-old Rauscher was found dead in Arizona under mysterious circumstances.

According to a statement from the police in Prescott to TMZ, Rauscher was dog sitting, and the homeowners discovered her dead body when they returned home. An obituary later confirmed the sad news, and one of her former castmates also paid tribute to the fallen reality star.

Read on to find out more.

According to TMZ, Corey Kasun, the rep for the Prescott police, said that Rauscher was dog sitting at a client's home in Prescott while the homeowners went on a vacation. During her stay, there were no disturbances and no security alerts.

Unfortunately, when the homeowners returned on July 17th, they found her unresponsive on the bed in their guest room. When police arrived at the location, they pronounced the reality star dead.

Rauscher was 35 years old and rose to fame in 2013 as a contestant on the famous Discovery Channel show "Naked and Afraid." She also featured on its 2015 spinoff show, "Naked and Afraid XL."

According to Kasun's report to TMZ, police on the scene found several cans of compressed air near Rauscher's body. It is still unclear if she consumed the contents of the cans, which are used to blow off the dust from computers and electronics.

The police have said that there were no immediately apparent signs of foul play in the room. They also did not find any drugs, drug remnants, or a suicide note around her body. The dog she was living with was also unharmed. The Yavapai County Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy and determine Rauscher's cause of death.

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An obituary later confirmed to fans that Rauscher had "passed away suddenly on Sunday, July 17th." It also revealed that the late reality star was born in Philadelphia, attended University in Virginia, and was working at the Prescott VA at the time of her death.

The obituary also read that Rauscher "served honorably in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt CVN-17 during the Iraq War. It also said that "she was an avid outdoor enthusiast who loved nature and all creatures big and small."

The obituary concluded with, "Mel was a passionate athlete and deeply involved in local adult leagues. She was 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 left behind her parents, three sisters, and a large extended family. Her family has scheduled visitation for fans and well-wishers later this week in Arizona, and there will be a celebration of her life in Philadelphia in October.

Rauscher's former castmate Jeremy McCaa also posted a moving tribute to her on his Facebook page.

He wrote, "She came into my life in a way I can't explain. We had such chemistry on the show, and it blossomed into a friendship that goes beyond what words could describe. Her laughter was one of a kind. Her friendship was amazing. Even tho we weren't blood, we were family."

He continued, "I could always count on her. 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 to [sic] soon and taken from us to [sic] early. You'll always be my Mel."

He concluded his tribute with, "I love you. I'll see you again one day. The world lost an amazing person. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers. See you again, my Queen."