Jeopardy! star who blew viewers away is found dead at age 41 as fans race to save her beloved dog from cruel fate

Jeopardy! contestant Laurin Bell was found dead aged 41 on Monday, triggering a race to save her dog from a cruel fate.

The Florida Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to The US Sun on Tuesday that the executive assistant had died by suicide.  

Her cousin Kristen Joyner wrote on Facebook this Tuesday that Bell had ‘decided to end her life,’ calling her ‘a brilliant, funny, and beautiful soul.’

Bell’s death prompted a scramble to rescue her 14-year-old dog Kinley, whom Joyner wrote is confined to a pound in Polk County, Florida with only 10 days to be adopted.

Polk County Animal Control, which is run by the sheriff’s office, had a goal of becoming no-kill by this year, according to the local chapter of the Humane Society.

Joyner wrote that Kinley was a ‘great companion’ who was ‘not good with other dogs, but is friendly with everyone and cats.’

DailyMail.com has reached out to Polk County Animal Control for comment. 

Joyner put out a call on Facebook to save the animal, writing that Bell ‘had a dog that was taken to the pound, if anyone is willing to take her in please let me know.’

After Bell’s death, some social media users – including Joyner – began sharing farewell Facebook post accredited to the Lakeland, FL resident, which read ‘Well everyone, I’m signing off from life. See you on the other side’ but it’s unclear if it’s actually real.

A spokesperson for the Florida County Medical Examiner’s Office said: ‘An autopsy has been performed, and toxicology testing is underway.’

Laurin appeared on the 2023 Valentine’s Day episode where she earned $5,200 with an impressive 86.67% rate at answering questions correctly.

At the end, host Ken Jennings gave the clue: ‘A craft that visited it was named for Giotto, based on the story that 680 years earlier, the painter depicted it as the Star of Bethlehem.’

Unfortunately, Bell went ‘all in’ with her earnings but her answer ‘What is Jupiter’ was incorrect, which dropped her to zero so returning champ Kendra Westerhaus easily won the episode with $17,600.

Jeopardy! viewers were saddened to hear about the passing of the Duquesne University alum.

Reddit user @willtwerkf0rfood wrote: ‘Oh this is heartbreaking. I hope her soul finds peace and I hope someone is able to take her pup.’

I’m so sorry for her friends and family, and her canine companion,’ Reddit user @AveryElle87 wrote.

‘You never know what someone is going through, so I hope we all see that big smile and remember that, and try to be a bit more compassionate and kind along the way.’

Reddit user @Js_On_My_Yeet commented: ‘Rest in peace. Remember to check on your friends y’all.’

‘It’s sad. She looks like she would have had a lot of life ahead of her yet,’ Reddit user @seifd wrote.

Reddit user @Apprehensive_Set9276 commented: ‘Devastated to hear this. I hope the people she loved have support for their loss. RIP.’