Ashley Sawyer of 'Catfish' fame dead at 23

LOS ANGELES, May 3 (UPI) -- Catfish star Ashley Sawyer has died at the age of 23.

"MTV is deeply saddened to learn that Ashley Sawyer has passed away," the network that airs Catfish said in a statement to People magazine confirming her death. "Our condolences, thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends."

The cause of death is still unknown.

Catfish host Max Joseph tweeted about Sawyer's death writing, "Shocked and saddened by the death of Ashley Sawyer. So sweet and kind. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family," alongside a photo of the two embracing each other on the show.

Sawyer is known for appearing on the online-dating reality series back in 2013 when MTV documented her meeting Michael Fortunato for the first time after they started a relationship online. Fortunato died unexpectedly in 2013 from a pulmonary embolism at age 26 one month after the episode aired.

"The last thing we said to each other was that we loved each other," Sawyer said on a recent Catfish special where she also revealed that she was struggling with drug addiction. According to MTV, Sawyer's sister Jessica Ross explained that she had completed a program at a sober-living facility and was most recently able to live on her own.