The New York City medical examiner’s office has confirmed that actress Michelle Trachtenberg died of natural causes related to complications from diabetes.
Trachtenberg, 39, was found “unconscious and unresponsive” in her Manhattan apartment in February. While no autopsy was performed due to her family’s religious objections, toxicology tests were conducted and determined the cause of death.
The medical examiner stated there was no evidence of foul play, which allowed the office to respect the family’s wishes. Trachtenberg’s relatives, who are Orthodox Jews, cited religious reasons for opposing a post-mortem examination.
A source previously told NBC News that the actress had undergone a liver transplant before her death, though the timeline and circumstances remain unclear.
Trachtenberg’s passing shocked fans and colleagues when the news broke. Her Gossip Girl co-star, Blake Lively was among the first to pay tribute calling her “big, bold, and distinctly herself.”
She rose to prominence as a child actor and was widely known for her roles as Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl.