- Demri Parrott died in 1996 at the age of 27 and it also contributed to the death of her former boyfriend, Layne Staley
- The American model and actress had issues of drug abuse, was homeless at the time, and it is also alleged that she may have introduced Layne to drugs
- The sister of 3 and step-sibling of 1 had a picture-perfect love life with Layne and was described as a match made in heaven
Demri Parrott was famous for being the ex-fiancee of Alice in Chains frontman, Layne Staley. She also created a path for herself as a model, artist, muse, and actress who died of a drug overdose on October 29, 1996, at the age of 27.
Her death also led to the end of Layne when he shut the world out and later died in 2002 at 34. This led to an endless debate on whether Demri caused the death of the rock star. Whatever it was that happened, their names still linger and the mystery of their love and death still hangs. Here is all to know about Demri’s death and the mystery that surround it.
Demri Parrott’s Family and Life Before She Met Layne
Demri Lara Murphy was born on February 22, 1969, in Bremerton, Kitsap County in Washington, United States.
She adopted Parrott as her surname after her mother, Kathleen A. Austin married Stephen John Parrot. Her biological father is Dennis Wayne Dougherty.
Demri was of Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, and Swiss-German descent.
The former model had 3 younger brothers, Devin C. Remme, Derek J.P. Murphy, and David J.M. Murphy. She also had a younger step-sister, Christa Dougherty.
On the aspect of her family, Parrott attended a high school in Arlington before moving to the Highschool of Performing Arts in Jacksonville, Florida.
What to Know About Her Career and Artistic Life
Although arts did not give Parrott the fame that she got from her relationship with Layne, she was in love with different aspects of it.
As a young artist, she wrote poems and also found a way to start a career as an amateur actor.
She also took part in some modeling work. Yet, her name rose in entertainment through the Facelift song of Alice in Chains in 1990.
Parrott’s Mysterious Life With Layne
Demri Parrot Met Layne in 1988 and Dated for About 6 Years
About the time that Demri was 19 and Layne was 21 in 1988, they met at a store called Saturdays. At the time, Demri was working at the store.
Nonetheless, there are other claims that Demri and her ex met at a party and it was love at first sight.
Whatever the case, their love life led many people around them to believe that they were soulmates and that their love was made in heaven.
4 years into their relationship in 1992, they became engaged and their relationship even drew more attention.
2 years after they were engaged and about 6 years since they began dating, the former couple split.
Did Demri Parrot Introduce Layne Staley to Drugs?
There is a popular opinion that Demri introduced Layne to drugs after they started dating. However, a report claimed that a friend of the former couple named Amber Ferrano alleged that it was Layne who introduced his 5 feet tall petit ex-girlfriend to drugs.
The report further exposed that Parrot did not use it until the Alice in Chains singer became a part of her life.
Still, according to the Amber report, Demri was able to get help and quit using drugs. She was then determined to help her then-boyfriend, Layne to get clean but she couldn’t.
Instead, she ended up in the same position as him and later found herself going in and out of rehab.
When and How Did Demri Parrott Die?
The former fiancee of Layne, Demri Parrott died of drug overdose – acute intoxication and the combined effects of opiate, meprobamate, and butalbital on 29th October 1996. She died at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland, Washington.
She was then buried at the Miller-Woodlawn Park in Bremerton, Kitsap County, Washington.
Before she died, Parrott’s drug use left her homeless, with a history of prostitution and theft; as well as health challenges of endocarditis.
See Also: Øystein Aarseth- The Disturbing Life And Death of Mayhem’s Euronymous
How the Death of Demri Led to Layne’s Depression and Death
Layne was never the agile and charismatic musician since the death of his ex, Demri Parrott in 1996. All he had left was her memory and a reported teddy bear that belonged to her and was given to him by her family.
He was also reported to be put under suicide watch.
It was later revealed that he leaned more toward drugs so much so that he lost the ability to ingest food.
His family, bandmates, and manager, Susan Silver reached out to help him but couldn’t. Instead, the Alice in Chains singer later began withdrawing from public spaces but was able to avail himself at the 1997 Grammy Awards and a few other appearances.
It was believed that Parrott’s death was the beginning of the singer’s end. His career fell apart and so was Alice in Chains. His last public performance with the band was 2 years before Demri’s death and he battled with drug issues. On the other hand, his last few songs with the band were in 1998.
Staley lived his last days in his condo in Seattle.
On 5 April 2002, 4 years after the death of Parrot, Layne died of an overdose in his home. He was 34 at the time.
Despite his enjoying fame over time and gracing stages with a lot of crowds, the legendary rock star died alone and was found on April 19, 2002, 9 days after he died.
His body was found partially decomposed after his manager, Silver received a phone call from his accountant who was worried that there was no withdrawal from his account for about 2 weeks.
In turn, Silver called Staley’s mother, Nancy McCallum who called 911.
An autopsy revealed that the singer and multi-award winner that his weight declined to 80 pounds.
Demri Parrott may not be a rock star but what she has in common with them is that she died early and as a result of a drug overdose. Her death became one of the 5,951 people that reportedly died of an overdose in the US in 1992. It also contributed to the demise of her ex, Layne Staley whose death was also one of the 23,518 recorded deaths in the US in 2002, per Wikipedia.
