Bachelorette Star Found Dead Off California Highway
Credit: ABC
Julien Hug -- who competed for Jillian Harris' heart on ABC's The Bachelorette last year -- was found dead along a scenic Southern California highway, about 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles.
The contestant's father, Bertrand Hug, confirmed the body was found Wednesday in a remote area that most people would need to hike to get to. He had been missing since Monday.
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Fellow contestant Kiptyn Locke told a San Diego newspaper Wednesday night that he had just been informed of the death, calling it "crushing news."
The two had stayed in touch since shooting the show together.
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Hug, 35, was “one of the most positive, standout people I have met," Locke said. "He was always trying to help other people ... From the very first time I met him, he was just a very selfless guy."
On the show, Hug described himself as an adventurer. "The sense of freedom that comes from skydiving is a big thrill," he said on the Season 5 opener.
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He only lasted two weeks on the show before he was eliminated.
In a Twitter message, Bachelorette Harris urged fans: "Please say a prayer for the loss of a friend this morning. Life is fragile, don't forget to love the ones you love."
The cause of death is being investigated; an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.
