Bobbi Kristina Brown Was Found Unconscious 10 Years Ago Today. Revisiting Her Tragic Death at Age 22 — and Its Eerie Similarities to Mom Whitney Houston’s Passing

Bobbi Kristina Brown took after her mother Whitney Houston in more ways than one — including the tragic circumstances that ultimately led to her death at 22 years old.

As the only child of Whitney and Bobby Brown, Bobbi Kristina was thrust into the spotlight from a young age, experiencing a life full of both triumphs and struggles. On Jan. 31, 2015, she was found unconscious in a bathtub in her home, nearly three years after her mother died by accidental drowning. Bobbi Kristina remained on life support for nearly six months, until she died on July 26, 2015.

Like her parents, Bobbi Kristina dreamed of being a singer and actress herself, having performed with her mother at some concerts, starring in one of Tyler Perry’s sitcoms For Better or Worse and appearing in several reality shows, including Being Bobby Brown and Lifetime’s The Houstons: On Our Own.

Beyond her own ambitions, she also sparked creativity in her mother, who, in one of her final interviews with Access Hollywood, called Bobbi Kristina her “greatest inspiration.”

Growing up in the public eye as the daughter of two music icons came with its own set of challenges. In Bobby’s 2016 memoir titled Every Little Step, he reflected on Bobbi Kristina’s upbringing, saying, “She often saw her mother and father high and was around the two of us when we were f—– up … When I think about it now, I just feel enormous pain. We failed her.”

Following her death, Bobbi Kristina’s friend told PEOPLE that she was “plagued by demons” after her mother died, which led to substance abuse struggles and a tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend Nick Gordon — who was later found civilly liable in her death.

Here’s a look back at the circumstances surrounding Bobbi Kristina Brown’s death, as well as the legacy she left behind.

How did Bobbi Kristina Brown die?

Bobbi Kristina’s death was ruled a combination of drowning and drug intoxication, according to the Fulton County Medical Examiner.

The toxicology report found marijuana, alcohol, “a cocaine-related substance,” sedative and anti-anxiety medications and morphine in Bobbi Kristina’s system. The medical examiner’s office, however, was unable to determine if her death was intentional or accidental.

“The underlying cause of death is the condition which starts the downhill course of events leading to death and in this case is the immersion associated with drug intoxication,” the medical examiner’s office said in the statement at the time. “The pneumonia and encephalopathy are more immediate causes which resulted from the immersion and drug intoxication.”

When did Bobbi Kristina Brown die?

After being found unconscious in a bathtub on Jan. 31, 2015, and spending months in the hospital, a rehabilitation center and hospice care, Bobbi Kristina died on July 26, 2015.

Where did Bobbi Kristina Brown die?

Bobbi Kristina was found by her ex-boyfriend Gordon in the bathroom of their home in Roswell, Ga. She was then revived and rushed to North Fulton Hospital before being transferred to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, where she was placed on life support.

In March, she was moved to a rehabilitative facility before being transferred into hospice at Peachtree Christian Hospice in Duluth, Ga. She eventually died there a month later.

How old was Bobbi Kristina Brown when she died?

The singer was 22 years old at the time of her death.

Why was there a lawsuit following Bobbi Kristina Brown’s death?

Shortly after the singer was moved to hospice care, her court-appointed conservator filed a complaint against Bobbi Kristina’s boyfriend Gordon to “pursue justice” on her behalf.

“No human being, male or female, should endure what Bobbi Kristina endured,” Bedelia C. Hargrove told PEOPLE in a statement through a family member’s lawyer in June 2015.

In the complaint, Gordon was accused of causing “substantial bodily harm” and stealing money by pretending to be Bobbi Kristina’s husband.

That August, Hargrove filed an amended complaint accusing Gordon of causing Bobbi Kristina’s “wrongful death.”

The complaint claimed that the pair had a heated argument, which led Gordon to give Bobbi Kristina a “toxic cocktail” that left her unconscious before he put her face down in the bathtub.

Legal representatives for Gordon told PEOPLE that the lawsuit was “slanderous and meritless.”

“Nick has been heartbroken and destroyed over the loss of his love and it’s shameful that such baseless allegations have been presented publicly,” the statement read.

In September 2016, Gordon was found civilly liable in Bobbi Kristina’s death and later ordered to pay $36 million to her estate.

What happened to her mom Whitney Houston?

Bobbi Kristina’s death drew striking parallels to her mother’s, who died on Feb. 11, 2012, at 48 years old. She was found unresponsive and submerged in the bathtub inside of the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Although the “I Will Always Love You” singer’s death was ruled an accidental drowning, a coroner’s report cited heart disease and cocaine use as contributing factors.

Los Angeles County chief coroner Craig Harvey explained to PEOPLE at the time that both of those factors “complicated” her death, with coroner assistant chief Ed Winter explaining there could have been two potential explanations for what happened.

“She could’ve passed out first due to the intoxication from the cocaine, or she could’ve had a heart attack and then drowned,” Winter said. “It’s probably one of those two scenarios.”

How did the public react to Bobbi Kristina Brown’s death?

From the day Bobbi Kristina was found unconscious to the news of her death months later, fans, industry fellows and loved ones alike showed their support on social media and in person.

In February 2015, while Bobbi Kristina remained on life support, her family organized a candlelight vigil in Riverdale, Ga. The public event drew a strong showing of support, with nearly 300 people attending to honor her and stand with some of her family and friends.

When news broke of her death in July, many celebrities shared tributes online, including Oprah Winfrey, who wrote on X, “Peace at Last!”

Singer Mariah Carey also shared her words of support on the platform, saying, “Heartfelt prayers & condolences from the bottom of my heart to the family of Bobbi Kristina Brown. My thoughts are with you.”

Meanwhile, rapper Missy Elliot wrote on X that her heart was “truly heavy,” while R&B star Ciara shared on Instagram that she was “Lost For Words.”

Those close to her continued to honor her memory in the months that followed, including the singer’s best friend and former roommate Mason Whitaker, who spoke to PEOPLE in February 2016 and reflected on Bobbi Kristina’s death, saying, “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and the amazing influence she had on my life.”

Whitaker continued, “Her vibrant spirit will live on forever. It devastates me to think the world won’t be able to experience the amazing person she was.”

What legacy did Bobbi Kristina Brown leave behind?

Several years after her death, Bobbi Kristina’s legacy lives on through the advocacy efforts carried forward by her father.

Bobby and his wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown established the Bobbi Kristina Serenity House, a non-profit organization that “aims to eliminate the epidemic of domestic violence against women, children, and families,” its website reads.

Beyond domestic violence advocacy, the organization also focuses on homelessness and mental health initiatives, per its website.

Bobbi Kristina’s story has also been remembered through film. In 2021, Lifetime released a posthumous documentary, Whitney Houston & Bobbi Kristina: Didn’t We Almost Have It All, which detailed the mother and daughter’s shared struggles.

Some glimpses of Bobbi Kristina’s life were also shared in 2022’s I Wanna Dance with Somebody, a biopic focused on her mother’s life.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

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