Russell Armstrong, the estranged husband of "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" cast member Taylor Armstrong, has committed suicide, Bravo has confirmed.
The news was first reported by TMZ.com, which reports that Los Angeles firefighters were called to a home on Mulholland Drive on Monday night, where Armstrong was found hanging in a bedroom. The website reports that a roommate discovered him and called 911. No suicide note was found. Russell Armstrong was 47.
A source close to the situation told RadarOnline.com that Taylor Armstrong "is hysterical, and can barely speak. She has no idea why Russell would do this. She doesn't know how she is going to be able to tell her daughter, Kennedy."
The reality TV personality's rep issued a statement to Access Hollywood this morning, saying, "Taylor Armstrong is devastated by the tragic events that have unfolded. She requests privacy at this time so that she may comfort her young daughter. Her thoughts and prayers are also with Russell’s 11- and 13-year-old sons."
A Bravo spokesperson issued this statement: "All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Our sympathy and thoughts are with the Armstrong family at this difficult time."
The Armstrongs' marital troubles were documented in season one of "Beverly Hills," and Taylor Armstrong, 40, filed for divorce in July. The couple had been married for six years and have a 5-year-old daughter. Taylor had cited "irreconcilable differences" in the divorce petition.
Taylor Armstrong had claimed that her husband had abused her, pulling her hair and shoving her, PEOPLE reported. He denied the hair-pulling but told the magazine, "Did I push her? Yes, maybe things happened in the heat of the moment, but it was during a time in our lives that was not characteristic of who we were. This show has literally pushed us to the limit."
In July, PEOPLE reported that the Armstrongs were being sued for $1.5 million by MyMedicalRecords.com. An insider told RadarOnline that Russell Armstrong, an investment banker, had been "dealing with a lot of financial stress" at the time of his death. His attorney, Ronald Richards, told TMZ.com that "I feel bad because his credit cards weren't working. ... He had tremendous financial problems. ... As far as a will, even if he does have a will, they don't have any assets, so I'm not sure what there would be left to leave."
Taylor Armstrong is the founder of eImplement, Inc., a management consulting firm, and is chief creative director of BeautyTicket.com, a discount cosmetics site. She also works with a Los Angeles domestic violence shelter.
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