The family of fallen country star and former Cody resident Luke Bell released a statement on Thursday thanking friends and fans for their support and asking for privacy as they “grieve and honor his memory.”
They spoke out about Bell’s mental health issues he battled and ultimately was responsible, they said, for his death on August 26.
“We have lost our beloved son, brother and friend and we are heartbroken. Luke had a gentle heart, a wanderer’s spirit and a musical gift that he was fortunate to share with us and the world,” the statement reads.
“Unfortunately Luke suffered from the disease of mental illness, which progressed after his father’s death in 2015,” it continued. “Luke was supported through his disease by a community of loving family and friends.”
“Despite this, he was unable to receive the help he needed to ease his pain. Our hearts go out to the millions of people affected by mental illness who, like us, understand the devastating disappointment of a system that consistently fails to provide caring solutions to those who suffer.”
“As we navigate our heartbreak we respectfully ask for privacy to allow us room to grieve and honor his memory. Our only comfort comes in the fact that our Luke is finally free and at peace.”
