Naked and Afraid Star Melanie Rauscher Dies at 35

Melanie Rauscher, who starred in survival reality series Naked and Afraid, has died at the age of 35.

Rauscher was found dead on July 17 while dog-sitting in Prescott, Arizona. When the homeowners returned, they found her body in their guest room, police told TMZ. According to police, there were no signs of foul play or drug use, and the dog was fine.

Rauscher was a Navy vet from Philadelphia who was living in Arizona and worked at the Prescott VA Medical Center, according to Fox 10.

She appeared on Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid in 2017, then on Naked and Afraid XL the following year. The reality show features two contestants and leaves them without food, water, or clothes in an extreme outdoor environment, where they must survive for one month or go home early.

Rauscher's Naked and Afraid cast mate Jeremy McCaa called Rauscher his "swamp wife" and wrote on Facebook, "We had such a chemistry on the show and it blossomed into a friendship that goes beyond words could describe. Her laughter was one of a kind ... She was my swamp wife, a best friend, a strong woman, an amazing person and I'll always cherish our moments together. "

Rauscher is survived by her parents and three siblings.

Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.