The Voice singer Lauren Duski’s mother died of an apparent suicide
The mother of The Voice season 12 runner-up. Lauren Duski appears to have died by suicide. She was found dead in her car with a gunshot wound.
According to the Tuscarora Township Police in Indian River, Michigan, TMZ reports, officers found a car “sitting on the edge of the roadway with a female in the driver’s seat slumped over” on Friday (Dec 5). Paramedics were unable to find a pulse when they arrived.
Police say she had a “single gunshot wound to the chest” and a handgun was found in the car with “one round spent.” TMZ confirmed with law enforcement sources the woman was Lauren’s 59-year-old mother, Janis Duski.
Lauren shares an emotional message on Instagram “My mom was the greatest human being I’ve ever known”
Lauren shared an emotional goodbye to her mother in an Instagram message posted Monday. “My mom was the greatest human I’ve ever known,” Lauren wrote. “There was no one who loved harder. She offered her entire being — heart and soul to everyone she encountered and always held up the mirror to remind you of how wonderful and special you were.”
Lauren writes that her mother was the “top of her class AND president in dental school. Served as a captain in the United States Air Force. She pioneered the Wolverine Patriot Project alongside the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and made it her mission to provide oral health care to disabled and homeless Michigan military veterans.”
“If you’re struggling, do not be ashamed”
Lauren ends the message with a plea, “I’ve been feeling the most violent pull in my heart to remind you to please talk to one another. If you’re struggling, do not be ashamed. Do not be ashamed. Do not be ashamed.”
The singer continued, “Your mental health is nothing to be ashamed of and neither is talking about it. We are all trying to navigate this beautiful, messy life. I’ve learned that even the strongest humans have a breaking point. Be patient and gentle with yourself. Minute by minute. Please do not lose hope. Trust in God. There is always another chance…and there will never be another you.”
“I love you, mom. Forever,” Lauren wrote. “May you rest in glorious peace.”
Watch: Lauren’s mom visited her on the set of The Voice
A member of Team Blake Shelton, Lauren came in second to Team Alicia Keys’ Chris Blue for the season 12 crown in the spring of 2017. The singer’s powerful country pipes did justice to country classics such as “Tell Me Why” and “Ghost in this House.”
In her blind audition, the Michigan native described herself as coming from a family of “tone deaf dentists.” On Top 10 night, Lauren brought her mother to rehearsal to meet her coach. In the video clip, mom gave Blake a big hug, joking she was just “some lady off the street.” She called him “Mr. Wonderful.”
“My mom has been the biggest believer in my dreams,” Lauren shared in the clip. “She said, if you don’t try this, you’re going to kick yourself for the rest of your life and probably still be in dental school.”
