Miss North Dakota 2003 Found Dead in Minneapolis

Police responding to a call early Tuesday found 2003's Miss North Dakota USA dead in a Minneapolis home. Samantha "Sami" Edwards' cause of death has not been revealed, but KARE11 reports a police report did not cite any visible signs of trauma. A friend reportedly found Edwards, 37, with the Bismarck Tribune noting she was found dead around 7:37am. A GoFundMe campaign started by the 2004 Miss Minnesota has raised more than $17,000 as of this writing to help cover funeral expenses.

Writes Jessica Dereschuk, "She was a spitfire and with Sami you never knew what she'd throw your way—but you ALWAYS knew she would be there for you. She was awesome like that." The New York Daily News has this from the Miss USA organization: Edwards was "one of the most vibrant, energetic and full-loving titleholders we have had the honor to meet from our state pageants." (More Miss USA stories.)