Late 'Bachelor' Star Lex McAllister's Family Prays Her Tragic Suicide Saves 'Even One Hurting Soul'

Family, friends and fans of The Bachelor are grieving after the sudden suicide of Lex McAllister.

In a heartfelt statement, the family of the contestant from Jake Pavelka's season shares their hope that her tragic death will serve a purpose.

"Alexa was such a bright and shining star that she lit up the world, if only briefly," McAllister's cousin Jana Coleman, brother Josh McAllister and sister Andrea Bogner told RadarOnline.com exclusively.

"Her death has touched so many people and her death has affected the world as we know it," the reality star's loved ones said. "How and why she passed has raised so many questions for us all, but in time we hope and pray that her story will bring awareness and save even just one hurting soul."

As RadarOnline.com first reported, McAllister, 31, passed away following an apparently intentional overdose on pills.

The former reality star was rushed to a local Ohio hospital, family members confirmed to RadarOnline.com.

After her organs began to fail, her loved ones made the difficult decision to take her off life support.

Sadly, she had been battling a serious mental illness.

"She suffered from bipolar disorder and did a good job of hiding it," her friend Jesse Csincsak told RadarOnline.com. "Most of the people who were close to her didn't know because she hid it well."

This is the second heartbreaking suicide death to hit the cast of Pavelka's season.

In August 2013, Gia Allemand took her own life as well following a fight with her boyfriend.