Autumn Crittenden, noted for her appearance in MTV’s reality show “16 and Pregnant,” passed away unexpectedly at the age of 27 on July 20, 2024, in Henrico County, Virginia. Crittenden, a mother to three children, was found unresponsive in her bedroom by her mother and stepfather, following a distress call from a family friend.
Emergency services were dispatched following the distress call, as reported by Henrico County Police. Despite the paramedics’ attempts to resuscitate Crittenden using CPR, she was declared dead at the scene. While the cause of death is under scrutiny, it’s known that Crittenden had been dealing with multiple health challenges including diabetes, kidney disease, and hypertension.
Misty, Autumn’s sister, announced the tragic news on Facebook. In her post, she expressed immense sorrow over the loss of her sister, praising her for staying sober during difficult times and for being a devoted mother. The post was subsequently deleted, but not before it was archived by Starcasm, a prominent entertainment news outlet.
Crittenden first rose to fame in 2014 when she was featured in the fifth season of “16 and Pregnant.” The reality show captured her journey through pregnancy and the birth of her first child, Drake. The show also highlighted her issues with her then-partner Dustin Franklin, who was jobless and regularly used marijuana. The relationship eventually fell apart, leading Crittenden to take Franklin to court over child support.
Crittenden had two more children, a daughter, Abigail, and a son, Luke. Information regarding their exact ages or their father has not been disclosed.
After her stint on the reality show, Crittenden kept a low profile. She married Brad Oxley in 2017, but the relationship didn’t last long. Rumors circulated of her dating fellow “16 and Pregnant” star Millina Kacmar, though information about their relationship remains vague. In her later years, Crittenden focused on raising her children and maintaining her sobriety.
According to a media outlet, Crittenden had been struggling with heartburn recently and had expressed an intention to consult a doctor. These health concerns, combined with her pre-existing conditions of diabetes and kidney disease, might have played a part in her premature death.
The passing of Autumn is another tragic event for the “16 and Pregnant” series. Earlier this year, Sean Grainger, another participant on the show, died in an ATV accident at the age of 20.
Misty, Autumn’s sister, vowed to keep her memory alive and to take care of her children. “We will make sure these kids are alright. Your memory will not diminish over time. It will continue to live on each day,” Misty elaborated in her heartfelt tribute.
