The desperate search for former WCW wrestling star Daffney Unger \u2013 sparked by a distressing video she shared on social media \u00ad\u2013 ended in tragedy early Thursday.<\/p>\n
The performer known to legions of fans as the Scream Queen was found dead at the age of 46 from an apparent suicide, her friend and fellow pro wrestler Lexie Fyfe confirmed to the Daily News.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was found very early this morning,\u201d Fyfe said, breaking down in tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis last act, I don\u2019t want it to define her. She would always want people to reach out for help and to check in on those they\u2019re worried about. We\u2019re going to miss her,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Unger rose to fame in the World Championship Wrestling franchise starting in 1999, debuting as the impetuous girlfriend of wrestler David Flair, the son of former wrestling world champion Ric Flair.<\/p>\n
She won the WCW Cruiserweight title in May 2000 and later performed for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, at one point playing the role of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.<\/p>\n
\u201cI loved watching her perform. She was a born performer who was made for wrestling. When she had to retire due to injuries, she missed it immensely,\u201d Fyfe told The News. \u201cShe\u2019ll be missed as a performer, too, not just as a friend, but mostly as a friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Daffney Unger looks on during WCW's Monday Nitro in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss., Monday, May 15, 2000. (JAMES EDWARD BATES\/)<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are so sad to have to announce the passing of Shannon Spruill aka Daffney Unger @screamqueendaff,\u201d Fyfe wrote on Instagram Thursday. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are posting this at the request of her family. Please respect their privacy during this trying time. I will miss you my logical sister from another mister,\u201d Fyfe shared.<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CTU9sXogbHv><\/\n\n\n
View this post on Instagram <\/p>\n
A post shared by Lexie Fyfe (@slamminladies)<\/p>\n
Born Shannon Claire Spruill, Unger worried her friends and fans Wednesday night when she went live on Instagram and appeared to be suicidal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anyone has a way of reaching Daffney Unger, or knows her address, please help out. She\u2019s in a bad personal place and is threatening to harm herself. My phone call went straight to voicemail,\u201d pro wrestler Mick Foley tweeted afterward.<\/p>\n
\u201cHer family have been reached, and have her current address. She\u2019d moved in the past couple of weeks. Police have been dispatched,\u201d Sean Ross Sapp, the managing editor of Fightful.com, tweeted about 20 minutes later.<\/p>\n
Her family have been reached, and have her current address. She'd moved in the past couple of weeks. Police have been dispatched<\/p>\n
\u2014 Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) September 2, 2021<\/p>\n
Aubrey Causey, and investigator for the Gwinnett County medical examiner in Georgia, told the Daily News that Unger was found in her residence in Norcross, a small city northeast of Atlanta, early Thursday morning.<\/p>\n
She declined to comment on a cause and manner of death but said it appeared Unger died Wednesday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so very sorry to learn of Daffney\u2019s passing. A terrible loss for her family, friends and wrestling. She was far ahead [of] her time in our business. #RIPDaffney,\u201d Foley tweeted Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re hurting and thinking of doing harm to yourself, please know that help is available. 800-273-8255,\u201d he wrote, referencing the National Suicide Hotline.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m so very sorry to learn of Daffney\u2019s passing. A terrible loss for her family, friends and wrestling. She was far ahead if her time in our business. #RIPDaffney<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re hurting and thinking of doing harm to yourself, please know that help is available.
800-273-8255 https:\/\/t.co\/9AH20OjY50<\/p>\n
\u2014 Mick Foley (@RealMickFoley) September 2, 2021<\/p>\n
\u201cRest in eternal peace my sweet, sweet, Angel friend. You were such an amazing, funny, loving, caring person, and I\u2019ll never ever forget you. I love you always, @screamqueendaff,\u201d former pro wrestler Velvet Sky tweeted Thursday.<\/p>\n