Former Bachelor Contestant Hailey Merkt Passes Away at 31 After Battle with Leukemia
Hailey Merkt, a former contestant on The Bachelor, has tragically passed away at the age of 31 following a long and courageous battle with leukemia.
Her passing was confirmed in a heartfelt social media post shared on her personal Instagram page. The post included a picture of Hailey and a touching message that read, “It is with broken hearts we share that our beloved Hailey has passed away after a courageous fight for her life.”
The tribute highlighted Hailey’s bravery and resilience throughout her illness, stating, “Hailey faced her journey with unimaginable bravery, kindness, and selflessness. Despite every medical setback, she remained determined and chose to spend her final days surrounded by family and friends, doing what she loved most, with no regrets.”
The post went on to describe Hailey as “highly entertaining, never dull, and fully present in each moment.” Her vibrant spirit and love for life touched many, and the caption added, “Hailey embraced life with an unmatched zest; her beautiful spirit has impacted countless lives.”
The post also expressed the deep loss felt by those close to her, saying, “Hailey will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her love, laughter, and energetic spirit will always be remembered. Though we mourn her loss, we find comfort in knowing her spirit lives on in everyone she inspired.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Hailey’s grieving family to help them through this difficult time. The campaign, which will remain open until August 10, has raised over 112,000 Canadian dollars.
Hailey made her television debut in 2017 during Season 21 of The Bachelor, where she competed for Nick Viall’s affection. She was eliminated in the second week of the competition, but left a lasting impression on her fellow contestants and viewers.
Several Bachelor alums shared their memories of Hailey in the comments section of her tribute post. Danielle Maltby, a fellow contestant from the same season, wrote, “I feel so lucky to know your laugh and thankful to have met the kindest, most delightful person in the strangest places. So much love to all your people.” Raven Gates added, “Oh my goodness! This makes me so sad. Rest easy, Hailey. You will always be remembered.”
Ashley Stern also shared her grief, saying, “I feel lucky to have known such a beautiful, solid soul. I’ll never forget you, Hailey,” while Dominique Alexis wrote, “I hope you’re in a peaceful place, my love. I can’t believe I won’t see you again, but I’ll cherish every memory.”
Hailey had been open about her battle with leukemia, sharing her journey with fans on social media. In April, she celebrated being “leukemia-free,” giving hope to many. However, just three months later, her health took a turn for the worse. According to the GoFundMe page, after her bone marrow transplant, Hailey was initially told she had nine months to focus on healing, but tragically, leukemia cells returned after only six weeks.
Throughout her fight, Hailey continued to document her experiences, posting updates about her treatment and moments of joy, like a photo of her smiling during treatment in October 2023, which she called a “rare moment.” Her social media had previously been filled with selfies, dog pictures, and glimpses into her modeling career and everyday life.
Despite her struggles, Hailey’s positivity and spirit remained strong, and her legacy of love and strength will live on in the hearts of those who knew her. Rest in peace, Hailey.
Police have identified the shooter responsible for opening fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church – an immigrant hailing from…
Police in Houston, Texas have identified the shooter who opened fire at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church on Sunday as Genesse Ivonne Moreno, an immigrant from El Salvador with a lengthy criminaI history.
She previously used the name Jeffrey Escalante Moreno, prompting some reports that she identified as a transgender individuaI. Law enforcement officials did not refer to her as such during a press conference on Monday, however.
Two people were hit by the gunman — a 57-year-old man and a seven-year-old boy who accompanied the shooter — after she opened fire just after 2 p.m. on Sunday. Off-duty police officers who were present at the scene engaged the shooter and returned fire.
She was ultimately pronounced de ad at the scene.
The child — who has been identified as Moreno’s son — is not expected to survive, though he remains in criticaI condition at an area hospital, a Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson told the Houston Chronicle.
According to investigators, Hassig arrived at the church accompanied by the child just before Spanish mass was set to begin. She was dressed in a bIack trench coat and was armed with a semiautomatic rifIe, which she pointed at officers before she was shot and kiIIed.
Christopher Hassig, commander of Houston Police Department Homicide Division, identified Moreno as female during the press conference and confirmed that she has a history of using both male and female aliases.
She utilized both male and femaIe names, but through all of our investigation through this point, talking with individuaIs, interview, documents, Houston Police Department reports, she has been identified this entire time as female. She, her, he said.
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