New details have emerged in the March 10 death of Doug Kiker, American Idol‘s “Singing Garbage Man,” shedding further light on the 32-year-old’s final days.
According to a report from TMZ, a concerned stranger immediately called 911 when they passed Kiker on a Denver street, worried that the Alabama native may have been experiencing a drug overdose. Emergency medical services arrived on scene and took Kiker to the Denver Health Medical Center, where he died five days later.
Although non-law enforcement sources told TMZ that the Idol alum was suffering the effects of a drug-induced heart attack, the Denver Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to the New York Post that cause of death is still pending.
Kiker’s sister, Angela Evans, confirmed his death in a heartbreaking March 12 Facebook post.
“he was sooo loved and will be missed by so many!” Evans wrote. “Your singing with the Angel’s now Bubba Please pray for our family as we go threw this very difficult time.”
Doug Kiker Was a Father of Two
In addition to winning hearts on American Idol, Doug Kiker was also a father of two children. His ex-fiancee, Valerie Cook, told TMZ that she “hates” that her children’s father died.
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Now, Kiker’s family has started a GoFundMe page to help offset transportation and burial costs. “this was completely unexpected we are completely unprepared and are gonna need a little help getting him home from denver colorado and being able to give the memorial that not only he but anyone deserves,” Evans wrote. “Anything is greatly appreciated.”
According to Evans’ Facebook page, she lives in Greensboro, Alabama, where Kiker grew up.
Doug Kiker Brought Katy Perry to Tears on ‘American Idol’
While many American Idol hopefuls are not strangers to the stage, Doug Kiker walked on set for his season 18 audition with exactly zero performing history. That didn’t stop him from nailing Rascal Flatts’ “Bless the Broken Road” and leaving judge Katy Perry a sobbing mess.
Kiker moved forward to Hollywood Week. There, judges eliminated him after he sang Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
While Kiker had not posted new content to his Facebook page in several years, a May 2022 post offered some insight into the inner demons he may have fought.
“We all have our moments of true struggle,” he wrote.
