Marshall confirms his wife’s death followed a long struggle with opioid dependence
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall spoke publicly for the first time about the death of his wife, Bridgette, telling reporters in Montgomery that she died by suicide after years of declining health tied to severe migraines and a subsequent dependence on opioids.
Speaking four days after her death, Marshall became emotional as he described the family’s loss and pushed back against what he called reckless reporting about the circumstances of her death, saying his wife was not a public figure and deserved privacy.
According to Marshall, Bridgette developed an addiction to fentanyl while battling chronic migraines, and later struggled with major depressive disorder and anxiety. He said she had moved out of Alabama shortly before her death because she feared her private health struggles would become public.
The attorney general said the experience has shaped how he views the state’s opioid fight, noting that his office’s enforcement work on opioids and his involvement in recovery ministries are deeply personal to him.
“Professionally, you hear me talking about opioids, it’s personal,” Marshall said. He did not take questions after the statement and asked that his wife be remembered for what she did for others.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, at any hour.