Mindy McCready’s Ex: ‘Not Surprised’ [Video]

The father of one of Mindy McCready’s two children said that he was grief-stricken over her apparent suicide, but not terribly surprised after witnessing her personal struggles throughout the years.

“As sad as it is, it didn’t come as a major shock because she’s just been battling demons for so long,” ex-boyfriend Billy McKnight told told TODAY Monday morning. “Of course, I was around her when she attempted suicide twice, so I knew it was in her. I feel for her mother and her family and especially my son, but I can’t say that it shocked me.”

CNN reports that the troubled country singer was found dead Sunday night of an apparent gunshot wound to the head. She was 37-years-old.

McCready has led a troubled life lately, most recently mourning the loss of boyfriend David Wilson who died in January. Though the details of his death are still not fully known, he also died of a gunshot wound. McCready was not a suspect in Wilson’s death, which is thought to also have been a suicide.

“It was hurting so bad and then they just did what they could to make it hurt even more,” McCready recalled in January. “My life hasn’t really ever made sense to me because I do know what kind of person I am, and I do know that I try to be as good a person as I can possibly be every day.”

Now, McKnight’s primary concern is what is to become of McCready’s two children. He is the father of 6-year-old Zander, and is hoping to regain custody.

“I would like to keep those boys being brothers together and try to turn my son’s life around. He’s had a rough first six years, and he deserves better than this, and my heart’s broken for him right now. I’m very worried.”

Here’s video of Billy McKnight’s interview. Are you surprised by Mindy McCready’s apparent suicide?

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