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Heidi Montag's Stepbrother Dies in Accident

Posted Mar 3rd 2008 10:23AM by TMZ Staff

Heidi MontagThe stepbrother of "Hills" star Heidi Montag has died in a freak accident at a hotel where he worked in Colorado.

Eric O'Hara, a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, died a month after his discharge from the Army after falling off of an icy roof.

O'Hara was working at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel Thursday, helping to remove snow from the resort's roof. According to the Rocky Mountain News, he had just released a safety clip he was attached to so he could move along the roof when a piece of ice broke loose and he slid down the sloped roof and fell over the edge.

Heidi's father Bill married O'Hara's mother Terri.

In statement to TMZ, Heidi says, "Losing my brother, at an early age is such a tragedy. I just loved him more than anything. He was just so patriotic. He really wanted to go to and help and do all that he could for his country. He felt like it was his duty. I'll really miss him."

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91. Its not the story so much, its really come down to TMZ's lack of ethics. Is this really news? Is this something that we need to know? Is this a trashy enough story about someone who is related to a wanabe? TMZ and its editors should look for the lines...like the one they crossed with this article. Its your job to be journalists...I don't even know what to call you people now...its a whole new meaning to sleazzy reporting.

I would love to see a web site dedicated to reporting on the lives of all the TMZ reporters and editors...you know, like their mother's secret affairs with your wife's aunt. Or, the brother of one of the editors who faces criminal charges from the IRS, or your brother's secret desire to have plastic surgery to resemble Yasser Arafat.

Now, that would be something I'd love to read about.

Posted at 6:07PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by DM

92. Awww..extremely sorry to read this. Peace to everyone.
Sad news- about someone who has kept us all safe in this country.
Bless his darling soul!

Posted at 5:55PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Winston

93. # 81

You are RIGHT..that is how I feel...They are all HEROES - HEROES of the WORLD!!

Posted at 5:57PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Winston

94. =[
That's really sad..I'm so sorry.
In my prayers.

Posted at 6:07PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Chelsea

95. oohh i wonder if she will make another horrible music video about it the only person i feel sorry for is her family i think god took the wrong person should have been her waste of life useless ass milk it sweetie cause thats all ur good at

Posted at 10:10PM on Mar 5th 2008 by me

96. My condolences to the family, I may not like Heidi, but my heart does go out to her family at this dreadful time.

Posted at 6:23PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Ms. Duckie

97. I think death is sad for anyone. I wish we none had to suffer n die. Get a brain writers. Write something nice.

Posted at 6:14PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by gayle

98. i like LC 70,000 times more, but i want to extend my condolences to her.
:)

Posted at 6:18PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by juli

99. Other than he's a vet -- how does he rate the news???!!!! This isn't news!!! Let alone entertainment! Hills & his sister are only barely entertainment!!!

Posted at 6:19PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by bulldozer

100. I AM SO SORRY U AND ONLY U KNOW HOW U FEEL....FORGET ALL THOSE DUMB PEOPLE THEY ARE JUST JEALOUS BECAUSE THEY DIDNT MAKE IT TO THE TOP....YOUR BETTER THAN THAT GOD BLESS AND TAKE CARE

Posted at 6:36PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by marti

101. Just shows that when it's your time....

Posted at 6:40PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by RylantH

102. I don't know the actress, because I don't watch that show. However, I feel bad about her step-brother. It sucks to hear of someone having an accident so shortly after getting out of the army. I have a special warm respect and tender spot in my heart for our servicemen. God bless his soul, and may his family and friends be comforted during this very sad time.

Posted at 6:46PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Goldie2244

103. Are you kidding me? This makes news? Reality shows step brother? What's next...reality shows first grade teacher retires? "Losing my brother at an early age..." I'm sorry but that just smacks of PR. She didn't come up with that on her own, people don't say that until YEARS after the fact.

Posted at 6:56PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by Ms 'Ris

104. I am not sure which is sadder. The tragic loss or the fact they his stepsister is referred to as a"TV Star".. Star may ass!

Posted at 7:25PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by wendy

105. i know it is very sad to lose a relative b/c my husbands grandfather just recently died. celeb or not and whether you like her or not this is not a time to cut on heidi. give the girl a break unless you see that she would for some reason use this as an opportunity for herself. hopefully she has more respect for her family than to do that. on how he died tho......it sounds as if he was using a single lanyard.....why wasn't he using a double lanyard......you have to use a double lanyard when you are doing work like that......and if he would've had one it would've saved his life. my husband has to use a double lanyard when doing work like that. there's 100% tie off so you're always connected to a safety hook for those who don't kno

Posted at 7:15PM on Mar 3rd 2008 by shauna

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