Drew Barrymore has released a statement regarding the suspected suicide death of her half-sister, Jessica, saying the two of them didn’t know each other very well.

Jessica Barrymore was found dead in her car on Tuesday, just two days before her birthday, and authorities believe she took her own life after they found bottles of pills in her possession. Her body was discovered after she parked in front of a neighbor’s house, partially blocking the driveway.

“Although I only met her briefly, I wish her and her loved ones as much peace as possible and I’m so incredibly sorry for their loss,” Drew Barrymore said.

Barrymore’s father, John, was married four times and had a total of four children, but it’s not clear how close Drew is with her siblings. He died in 2004 after a battle with cancer, but had been estranged from Drew before that. His half-sister Diana also died of a suspected overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills.

Drew Barrymore has had a famously rocky relationship with both parents throughout the years and has spoken openly about being allowed to party with the adults when she was just a child due to her television and film career. After struggling with drugs and alcohol in her teen years, she moved on to a hugely successful acting and producing career and is now happily married and the mother of two children. After reconciling with her mom, Drew said in January of this year that their relationship is just too complicated.

“I’ve always been empathetic toward my mom, and I was even more so when I had a kid and we had a really amazing conversation about it. However, [becoming a mom] hasn’t enabled me to lessen the distance. It’s the hardest subject in my life. I’ve never just been angry with her. I’ve always felt guilt and empathy and utter sensitivity. But we can’t really be in each other’s lives at this point,” she said in a Marie Claire interview.

Our condolences to Drew and Jessica’s family at this difficult time.

Image via Wikimedia Commons