In a devastating turn of events, Aubrey Plaza and her husband, Jeff Baena, had been separated for four months before he was found dead by suicide. According to a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, which was obtained by People on Wednesday, it was confirmed that Plaza and Baena had separated in September 2024. This tragic news has sent shockwaves through the entertainment community and beyond.
The report revealed that the talented screenwriter texted Plaza on the very day he passed away. On January 3, at the age of 47, Baena was discovered dead in his Los Angeles home. The report also highlighted that Baena had made “concerning remarks” to the Parks and Recreation actress in October, which prompted Plaza to reach out to a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband.
Following this welfare check, Baena started therapy, indicating that he was “experiencing recent marital difficulties” with Plaza prior to his death. It was noted that Plaza received a text from her estranged husband on the morning of his death, and she “knew her husband to be alive” at the time he sent her the message.
A dog walker, whose name has been withheld from the report, arrived at Baena’s home around 10:25 a.m. on January 3 to walk his dog. It was during this visit that she discovered Baena’s body hanging from a staircase inside the residence. The report indicated that the dog walker heard loud music coming from the house, which she described as unusual. After calling out to Baena and receiving no response, she took the initiative to retrieve the dog and left the premises to call 911.
Shortly thereafter, Baena was pronounced dead, with the cause being ruled as suicide by hanging. Tragically, no suicide note was found at the scene; however, investigators confirmed that a cell phone was located near the staircase where Baena's body was discovered. Notably, there were no indications of alcohol or drugs in Baena’s system at the time of his death.
In response to this unimaginable tragedy, Plaza and Baena’s family released a joint statement shortly after the news of his passing was made public. “This is an unimaginable tragedy,” they expressed. “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.” This heartfelt message underscores the gravity of the situation and the profound loss felt by those who knew Baena.
This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more details emerge regarding the circumstances surrounding Jeff Baena's untimely death.
