Jeff Baena sent a final text message to his estranged wife, Aubrey Plaza, just hours before he tragically took his own life on January 3, 2025, as revealed in a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner obtained by *People*.
The report indicates that Baena, 47, and Plaza had been living separately since September 2024. Despite their separation, the filmmaker contacted Plaza on the morning of his death, confirming he was alive at the time the message was sent.
According to authorities, Baena had exhibited signs of emotional distress in October 2024, making troubling comments to Plaza that prompted her to request a welfare check. Following this, he began attending therapy sessions but continued to struggle with challenges in his marriage.
Baena was found by his dog walker at 10:25 AM PT at his Los Angeles residence. The dog walker reported hearing loud music coming from inside the house and discovered Baena hanging from a staircase. Emergency services were called immediately, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
No suicide note was discovered, though a cell phone was found nearby. Toxicology tests confirmed that Baena had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time of his passing.
Plaza, who married Baena in 2021, has since honored his memory in various ways, including wearing a tie-dye shirt during the *Saturday Night Live* 50th-anniversary special, a nod to the casual attire they wore during their spontaneous wedding.
In a joint statement, Baena’s family and Plaza described his death as an “unimaginable tragedy,” expressing their profound grief over the loss.
