Wife of Kentucky Congressman Andy Barr dies suddenly in their home at 39

[Judi Lynn]

Source: CBS/AP

JUNE 17, 2020 / 5:38 AM / CBS/AP

Oklahoma City — The wife of a U.S. Congressman from Kentucky died unexpectedly in the family's home Tuesday night at the age of 39, reports CBS Lexington affiliate WKYT-TV. Eleanor Carol Leavell Barr, the wife of Republican Representative Andy Barr, passed away in Lexington, Barr's chief of staff, Mary Rosado, said in a statement.

The Fayette County coroner was called to the family's home following the announcement of her passing, WKYT-TV said, adding that Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers was there for a short time, as well. He didn't offer any information about any investigation to WKYT.

Other officers told WKYT it was a family situation and the family would release information. Family members later asked WKYT to leave the area.



Republican Congressman Andy Barr and wife Carol speak with reporters outside polling place in Lexington, Kentucky on November 6, 2018.
TIMOTHY D. EASLEY / AP

"During this tragic time, we respectfully ask for privacy for Congressman Barr and his family to grieve Mrs. Barr being called home to heaven," Rosado's statement added. "Congressman Barr may release a more detailed statement at a later date, but right now is solely focused on being a father to his two beautiful daughters."


Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wife-of-kentucky-congressman-andy-barr-dies-suddenly-in-their-home-at-39/

[ret5hd]

1. COVID?

[OnlinePoker]

3. Unexpectedly so probably not. n/t

[JI7]

8. Haven't there been cases where usually younger people have suddenly died

and it was later found out they had covid ?

[louzke9]

15. I don't think you die suddenly from COVID unknowing you have it!

By the time COVID advances enough to kill you, you are usually in a hospital! I have read about cases where people at home got so sick they were rushed to an ER and then died in the ER, autopsy diagnosis....COVID.

[Miguelito Loveless]

20. COVID has caused blood clots

and a clot can kill you stone dead in a literal heartbeat. It depends on how serious people take things. My wife and I check our temp and O2 saturation every day, many people do not.

[BigDemVoter]

24. It looks MIguelito already answered this, but he's right. . . .

Covid can cause blood clots, even when asymptomatic. It's really frightening to think of in that regard in that we can "throw" clots from an illness we don't know aboout as we don't have symptoms. . .

I can't think of too many other reasons to drop dead like that at her age. Of course people DO have other issues like congenital heart defects, but the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic that CAN cause death like this makes one definitely wonder.

[BigDemVoter]

23. That was my immediate thought too. I wonder if it was?

[NurseJackie]

2. That's a shame.

[MrModerate]

4. There's a special pain when someone is taken before their time...

As the families of George Floyd, Tamir Rice, Ahmaud Aubery, and Breonna Taylor will tell you.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Absolutely.

[tanyev]

6. Wait, they announced her death before calling the coroner?

That seems...odd.

[TNNurse]

7. Oh, I do not think odd is the only word to use.

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. Not really; it's likely an ambulance had already turned up at their home

and therefore there could be speculation around already. Calling the coroner is a job for an attending doctor or paramedic, and whatever timescale they work on, it shouldn't stop someone in public life (and who therefore would be talked about) from making a simple statement that she'd died.

[KS Toronado]

9. If Covid 19 was the cause, will we finally see republiCONs taking this health crisis seriously?

Or will they continue their R vs D hoax?

[LizBeth]

10. More likely something like suicide.

[Talitha]

11. That's what I thought, too...

In my area, "Died suddenly in their home" is synonymous with suicide.

[Maeve]

12. When a death is treated as this "personal"

That is always going to be suspected. We still treat mental distress as something shameful and it shouldn't be.

[LizBeth]

14. Nope it should not. We have had suicide in family and family so outraged that the person would do

that to themselves and not think of others. This concept the person that commits suicide is thinking like me or others is absurd. The whole issue is they are not thinking the way most of us would. They are thinking it would be a blessing to others. They are looking to only end the pain. Anyone thinking suicide is not thinking the normal.

[MiniMe]

22. And when they ask the press to leave

[Happy Hoosier]

19. Same thing I thought.

Very sad.

[Rebl2]

13. Could have

been a brain aneurysm or massive stroke, heart attack, suicide. Who knows. I remember in jr. high there was a girl that died from a brain aneurysm. The school was quite open about it with us and this was the 1970’s.

[Polybius]

16. Possibly an overdose too

Regardless, it's a tragedy.

[Mosby]

17. According to the nyt, it was a massive aneurism. nt

[onenote]

18. For those who were inclined to speculate: the answer is that she died of an aneurysm

A good friend's mother died of a sudden aneurysm when we were in high school. She was around the same age.

[yellowdogintexas]

25. that was my first thought. Those come on suddenly and

there is very little time to take action. Could have been brain or abdominal aorta.