Married to Medicine star Quad Webb is mourning the death of her three-year-old great niece, Aryanna “Ari” Rice, who drowned in her Atlanta home earlier this month.
According to People, Cobb County police responded to “reports of a drowning child” on the evening of July 7, where they discovered Aryanna at Webb’s home in Marietta, Georgia. Aryanna, who is the daughter of Webb’s niece Tamica Webb, was staying there for a month-long vacation.
A source close to Webb provided a statement from the family.
“Quad Webb and family have suffered the loss of two beloved family members, in separate occasions, in just one week. This has been an incredibly challenging experience for the entire family. Your understanding and support are deeply valued,” they said, per TMZ.
The statement continues, “In this trying time, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for the kindness and compassion shown by the public, fans and media. We kindly request much needed privacy during this period of mourning as Quad is taking time to grieve with her family.”
People reports that she had been playing in the pool from approximately 6 pm to 8 pm under adult supervision. Two men who were at the Atlanta home at the time had stepped inside for a bit until they saw what they thought was a doll in the pool, but turned out to be Aryanna. They then tried to rescue the child and called 911. According to TMZ, it is unclear if Webb was present at the home when the tragic accident transpired.
She was then taken to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Webb has been an active part in Aryanna’s life since she was born in 2020.
She announced her birth during an Instagram Live at the time, when she shared that she and her mother would have custody of her after she got out of the hospital.
“We have a new baby that’s on the way, and so we’re very happy about her. She’s in the hospital right now, and she is eight pounds, so we’re very excited about her,” she said. “And my mom and I have custody of her. And so, I am working really, really hard to prepare a home for her.”
She later clarified in a statement to The Daily Dish that Aryanna was not her “adopted daughter,” but rather that she and her mother are part of “the village here to support baby Ari.”
“My mom and I are in a supportive role for Ari, and while everyone is elated about the new addition to our family, she has a mother,” she said.
Webb is known for her time on Bravo reality show Married to Medicine, which follows a circle of doctors and wives based in Atlanta’s elite medical community.
The Bravo star was expected to return for Season 10.