Brandi Hawbaker Death
In a tragic ending to a tumultuous life, Brandi “Rose†Hawbaker committed suicide on April 13th, 2008. It has been reported by her friend and former boyfriend Brandon Gerson that Hawbaker suffered from a “very serious untreatable mental illness.†Hawbaker had also been trying to seek the help she desperately needed the past year and a half from several doctors. It has been reported that The Los Angeles County Coroner confirmed that her body was found Sunday, April 13th in a residence in the 8700 block of Pershing Drive in Playa Del Rey, California. The autopsy that was performed ruled her death as a suicide.
Not a lot was truly known about Brandi Hawbaker. There was always much mystery surrounding Brandi and about her veiled past. Supposedly she left home at the age of thirteen because of a troubled childhood and began travelling the world doing odd jobs for food and shelter. According to Hawbaker’s own statements, she returned to the US in 2005 after a summer spent in Guyana. Ending up in Los Angeles, California, she became intrigued with the world of poker.
One of her very first poker tournaments was the Spring Pot of Gold where she placed 9th and won $655. This first taste of poker winnings led her to a No Limit Hold’em Super Satellite Event for the World Poker Tour Festa al Lago where Hawbaker finished in 17th place with winnings of $10,000. When Brandi played in the The Main Event for the WPT Festa al Lago and finished 35th with $20,875, it was thought she may have the right stuff to become the next up and coming darling of poker. She played in her last poker tournament on June 6th, 2007, the 38th Annual World Series of Poker Event #10, where she placed 55th and won $8,359.
Unfortunately, eccentric behavior mixed with much drama had Hawbaker the brunt and target of many internet forums. Hawbaker not only read all of drama surrounding her but also participated in it as well trying to tell her side of the story. Her attempts, however, were futile, as it just perpetuated things even further and led to even more vicious attacks on her character.
Perhaps in hopes of seeking a fresh start and a new life, Brandi Rose filed a name change petition with the courts on January 11, 2008 and changed her name to Naami Dea. There were also reports that she was trying to convert to the religion of Islam.
It’s disheartening that Brandi Hawbaker could not find the help she desperately needed and seeked. What makes it even worse is that although she was obviously trying to reach out for help, certain members in the poker community would never manage to let up on her. Continually slinging negativity at her, to the point of things being publicly written that she should commit suicide is inconceivable. No matter what sort of drama or turmoil she was in or allowed herself to be a part of, it was apparent that Brandi Hawbaker was a troubled young woman. It’s a sad commentary when young women are made to feel that in order to get ahead in a so called man’s world (i.e. – poker), that they need to exploit themselves. What is even sadder is that certain people feel the need to exploit troubled young women in order to further themselves or things they are involved in.
