Per the examiner’s report, the couple had been 'experiencing recent marital difficulties', with the actress having moved to New York in September. Photo: TNS
Actress Aubrey Plaza was separated from her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena, in the months before he died by suicide, authorities have confirmed.
The separation was revealed in a Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report obtained by multiple outlets on March 19.
According to People, the report says Baena had been separated from Plaza since last September, roughly four months before his death.
The 47-year-old screenwriter and director was discovered dead by his dog walker at his L.A. area home on the morning of Jan. 3. The medical examiner later ruled Baena’s death as suicide by hanging.
No alcohol or illegal drugs were found in his system and no suicide note was left at the scene, according to TMZ.
Per the examiner’s report, the couple had been “experiencing recent marital difficulties,” with Plaza having moved to New York in September.
A month later, Baena allegedly made “concerning remarks” that prompted Plaza “to call a friend to perform a welfare check,” the documents state.
Plaza later told police that Baena had been attending therapy since the October incident. He doesn’t appear to have made any additional comments that were cause for concern, and Plaza said there’d been no previous suicide attempts, reported TMZ.
Authorities said Plaza last heard from Baena when he sent her a text message just three hours before he was pronounced dead at 10.39am, though it’s unclear what the message said.
Plaza and Baena first began dating in 2011 and tied the knot in 2021. Throughout their relationship, they worked together on multiple projects, with Plaza appearing in his final feature film, 2022’s Spin Me Round.
Days following Baena’s death, Plaza and his family issued a joint statement calling his passing an “unimaginable tragedy.”
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support,” they said. “Please respect our privacy during this time.” – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
