Tragic News for Drew Barrymore

Update: Drew Barrymore has released a statement to JustJared about the passing of her half-sister, Jessica Barrymore. "Although I only met her briefly, I wish her and her loved ones as much peace as possible," said Barrymore. "And I’m so incredibly sorry for their loss."

In an absolutely horrifying story, it seems that tragedy may have struck the Barrymore family. According to the Daily Mail, Drew Barrymore's half-sister was reportedly found dead in her car by a neighbor Tuesday morning. The cause of death is suspected to be a suicide because there were allegedly "numerous white pills" scattered on the passenger seat of the car.

Witnesses interviewed by the Daily Mail say that a woman later identified as Jessica Barrymore had been parked in National City, California since at least midnight before her body was eventually discovered at 6 a.m. Page Six adds that the neighbor in question, Marta Lopez, was leaving for work when she noticed the car blocking her driveway and asked the woman inside if she needed help. That was when she discovered that the woman might not have been breathing.

However, the Barrymore family has yet to comment on Jessica Barrymore's death and, at the moment, it's not 100 percent certain that this Jessica Barrymore is Drew Barrymore's half-sister. According to Page Six, it was the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office who discovered the woman's name and date of birth, which match that of Drew Barrymore's half-sister. The Independent adds that Jessica Barrymore is the daughter of John Drew Barrymore and Nina Wayne, his third wife, as well as having a history of drug and alcohol addiction that mirrors Drew Barrymore's own struggles during her teenage years.

Until the Barrymore family issues a statement, we have no way of knowing for sure if the Jessica Barrymore who was pulled from the car is the same Jessica Barrymore who is a part of the famous Barrymore family. However, at the moment, reports aren't looking good and an autopsy has been scheduled to determine her cause of death.

This tragedy would come at a particularly terrible time for Drew Barrymore, whose birthday is coming up on Thursday, July 31. Just this year, Barrymore welcomed daughter Frankie Barrymore Kopelmann to the family, so we sincerely hope that she doesn't have to say goodbye to a different member of her family in such a sudden and horrifying way.