Poker Player Brandi Hawbaker Found Dead

Female poker player Brandi Hawbaker took her own life Sunday at the age of 26.

According to Bob Pajich of Card Player, "The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that her body was found Sunday, April 13, in a residence in the 8700 block of Pershing Drive in Playa Del Rey, Cali. An autopsy ruled her death as a suicide."

Pajich added, "According to Brandon Gerson, a friend and former boyfriend of Ms. Hawbaker's, she suffered from a "very serious untreatable mental illness" and had visited doctors in several states seeking help within the last year-and-a half."

Word of her death first spread in poker forums, then the following was posted by Bryan Micon on NeverwinPoker.com:

"It is with great sadness that I write this story. Brandi Hawbaker to some, Naami Dea to others, took her own life on Sunday. This news has been confirmed through Brandon and Brandi's family. Brandon, Brandi's family, and friends have asked the poker world to respect their privacy while they grieve. When the time is right we will have Brandon's statement on NWP. This truly is a tragedy, as the whole poker world loved to watch this eccentric young lady on and off the felt. Brandi will be missed and I hope she has found some peace."

Frequent eccentric behavior made Hawbaker the target of numerous forum threads over the last year and a half. Hawbaker did have $40,000 in career earnings, including a cash at the 2007 WSOP in a $2K NLHE event. Hawbaker made a name for herself after coming out of nowhere to finish 35th in the 2006 WPT Fest al Lago Main Event, also becoming a blog darling in the process.

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