Rosie O’Donnell’s ex-wife Michelle Rounds commits suicide

Rosie O’Donell’s ex-wife has committed suicide according to TMZ.

Michelle Rounds was found deceased in her home after she reportedly took her own life on Monday, the first day of National Suicide Prevention Week.

She was just 46. 

The couple began dating in 2011 and were married in June of the following year before splitting in 2014 and divorcing two years later.

It was just a few months after their private ceremony back in 2012 that the couple adopted their daughter Dakota, who is now 4 and lives with O’Donnell. 

Rounds previously attempted suicide in September of 2015, with a friend having security at the hotel her ex was staying at kick down the door to precent her from taking her own life.

‘I am saddened to hear about this terrible tragedy. Mental illness is a very serious issue affecting many families. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle’s family, her wife and their child,’ said O’Donnell in a statement.

 

Tragedy: Michelle Rounds was found dead inside her home after committing suicide on Monday at the age of 46 (Rounds and O’Donnell above in 2014)

Happy days: Rounds was the adoptive mother of O'Donnell's youngest daughter Dakota, 4, but lost custody of the girl in 2015 (Rounds and O'Donnell above with Dakota in January 2014) 

Happy days: Rounds was the adoptive mother of O’Donnell’s youngest daughter Dakota, 4, but lost custody of the girl in 2015 (Rounds and O’Donnell above with Dakota in January 2014) 

Tribute: O'Donnell also posted a drawing done by the couple's daughter Dakota on Friday in which the girl wrote about how much she loved her mother

Tribute: O’Donnell also posted a drawing done by the couple’s daughter Dakota on Friday in which the girl wrote about how much she loved her mother

O’Donnell also posted a drawing done by the couple’s daughter Dakota on Friday in which the girl wrote about how much she loved her mother.

It is unclear if that was a reference to O’Donnell or Rounds. 

A source revealed to DailyMail.com that Rounds’ 2015 suicide attempt occurred shortly after she lost custody of the couple’s daughter Dakota.

The incident also came just one week after DailyMail.com released exclusive photos of O’Donnell and her then-girlfriend Tatum O’Neal enjoying a romantic getaway at the television host’s West Palm Beach mansion.

Rounds had ‘taken some pills and drank wine’ during that attempt according to an insider with knowledge of the situation.

O’Donnell did her best to help Rounds after the incident according to another source, and even let her see their child despite being granted full custody.

‘She’s bending over backwards and won’t try to prevent Rounds from seeing Dakota,’ said the source.

The source also said that Rounds’ behavior had been erratic around that time, adding that she wanted O’Donnell back and was jealous of her new relationship with O’Neal.

‘Basically, Michelle is deeply in love with Rosie and wants her back. She hopes it can still happen,’ said the source.

‘It hasn’t been an easy time for Michelle with Rosie stepping out with her new girlfriend and losing custody of Dakota to her.’   

Tough time: Rounds previously attempted to commit suicide in 2015 with pills and wine, but was saved when a friend had security kick down the door to her hotel room (l to r: Blake, Vivienne, O'Donnell, Rounds, Chelsea and a friend at a Broadway show in 2014)

Tough time: Rounds previously attempted to commit suicide in 2015 with pills and wine, but was saved when a friend had security kick down the door to her hotel room (l to r: Blake, Vivienne, O’Donnell, Rounds, Chelsea and a friend at a Broadway show in 2014)

The pair’s whirlwind romance started in the summer of 2011, when Rosie approached the corporate headhunter in a Starbucks because she thought Rounds’ puppy was cute. 

Rounds and O’Donnell were engaged by December of that year and married in June 2012 in a private ceremony after Rounds tried to get pregnant and Rosie suffered a heart attack.

In January 2013 they announced they had adopted a baby girl following Rounds’ battle with desmoid tumors.

The custody of the couple’s adopted daughter Dakota was the central issue during their divorce proceedings.

Rounds had requested sole custody initially claiming she was a more attentive parent.

She also argued that O’Donnell should be subject to drug tests because of her excessive drinking and marijuana usage.

Rounds maintained through it all that she was not looking to profit by dragging out the proceedings, claiming that she had plenty of money thanks to her own career success.

O’Donnell also has four older children: sons Blake and Parker and daughters Chelsea and Vivienne.

Chelsea, whose mother is O’Donnell’s Kelli Carpenter, ran away from home at 17 to move in with an heroin addict and his family.

She was returned home by police after O’Donnell revealed that the girl had left home, but once she turned 18 she decided to move out again and go live with her birth mother.

Chelsea, 19, is now married and living in Long Island with her husband.  

To speak to a skilled, trained counselor, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1 800 273 8255

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk