Alison Carey's traumatic life as sister Mariah pays emotional tribute after sudden death

Pop icon Mariah Carey is mourning the loss of her mother and sister, who both died on the same day, leaving the star heartbroken. The 'Emotions' singer revealed the devastating news that her 87-year-old mother Patricia and 63-year-old sister Alison had passed away within hours of each other over the weekend.

In a heartfelt statement to PEOPLE, the bereaved songstress shared: "My heart is broken that I've lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day." Carey expressed her gratitude for the time she spent with her mother before her passing: "I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed," and thanked her fans for their support, asking for privacy: "I appreciate everyone's love and support and respect for my privacy during this impossible time."

The 55-year-old superstar did not disclose the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

Patricia Carey, a former opera singer and vocal coach, married Alfred Roy Carey in 1960 and gave birth to Mariah nine years later. The couple separated when Mariah was just a young child.

Alfred Roy Carey died in 2002 at age 72. Raised primarily by her mother, Mariah, along with her siblings Alison and Morgan, was introduced to music from an early age, which paved the way for her illustrious and award-winning music career.

Throughout her life, Mariah's relationship with her mother was filled with challenges. In her 2020 memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, she described it as a "prickly rope of pride, pain, shame, gratitude, jealousy, admiration, and disappointment."

Despite their differences and several tumultuous years, the pair managed to reconcile, with Patricia holding a special place in Mariah's heart, even earning a special dedication in the memoir.

Unfortunately, Mariah wasn't able to reconcile with her sister Alison, who tragically passed away over the weekend. Preferring to stay out of the limelight, Alison made headlines in 2021 when she attempted to sue Mariah for claims made in the memoir that she said were "vindictive" and caused "immense emotional distress".

In her book, Mariah alleged that Alison "gave her Valium, tried to pimp her out and threw a cup of boiling hot tea on her causing third-degree burns" when she was 12. Mariah heavily criticised Alison throughout the book, alleging her late sister offered her cocaine as a child and "would barter her body for money or drugs".

Alison disputed these allegations, claiming Mariah hadn't provided any evidence to support them.

In the wake of her sister's memoir, Alison attempted to take Mariah Carey to court by filing a lawsuit seeking $1.25 million in damages. However, the case did not make it to a courtroom.

According to a 2021 summons filed by Alison, she levied allegations at the star, but with Mariah demanding a formal complaint to address, the proceedings ground to a halt with no further action reported, as per In Touch Weekly.

Continuing her quest for justice in that year, Alison claimed Mariah spun sensational tales, regardless of Alisons own recounted trauma from alleged childhood abuse by their mother.

Alison, appearing estranged from her family roots, filed a lawsuit against her mother Patricia in August 2020. She accused her of allowing strangers to sexually abuse her during what she described as Satanic rituals when she was a child.

The case, filed with the State of New York Supreme Court, aimed to obtain compensation for the immense psychological and physical damage, mental pain and anguish and intentional infliction of severe emotion distress she asserts to have endured.

Alison, who has faced legal trouble such as her 2016 prostitution arrest in New York, described a harrowing past battling drug addiction and a traumatic childhood.

Attempting to reclaim her life, she overcame a childhood where she was nearly "burnt alive" by a relative and suffered repeated sexual abuse during "Satanic Ceremonies" She recounted the ordeals to The Sun in 2016, noting how these ceremonies took place between 2am and 4am on specific dates.

"The ceremonies or rituals were always between 2am and 4am and they weren't every week as far as I can remember - just certain dates, " Alison detailed her chilling experiences: "Everyone would wear long robes with black hoods and walk in twos across to this place."

Alison provided a disturbing description of the scene: "Inside they would start the rituals and they would be chanting in another language - I think Latin. I never understood what was going on - I remember there was some kind of a table or altar and they would chant and every one would stand in a circle. There would be around 20 people there - including children."

She grimly added, "Then terrible things would happen - things that a child should never see," explaining the trauma: "I was sexually abused there. They told me that if I didn't do what they told me or if I told them what was going on they would harm Mariah."

Despite these challenges, Alison eventually transitioned onto a methadone program and succeeded in getting clean, celebrating this as a significant turning point in her life.

Alison Carey's life was not only marked by a troubled past and legal issues but also by a lifelong battle with various health conditions, starting from her HIV diagnosis in 1990. She lived with the repercussions of a brutal home invasion since 2015, which left her with short-term memory issues and visual impairments.

In a devastating turn of events towards the end of last year, Alison divulged that she lost all her teeth without the means to afford restorative dental treatments, despite having a sister whose fortune surpassed £350 million.

"I'm Alison Carey, unfortunately I'm living without teeth," Alison confessed in November, as reported by The Mirror. "I haven't been able to replace them. I wish I could replace them but I just don't have the money, so this is where I stand."

"It's almost impossible to get things done without teeth. That's all I really have to say."

During her final days, sources shared that Alison was under home hospice care per confirmation by a confidant to The Sun.

"Alison was on home hospice care for the last three weeks of her life," her good friend and caregiver, Dave Baker, disclosed to the outlet, further mentioning her struggle with internal organ issues.

Dave, a close friend of the deceased, paid tribute by saying: "Beneath a tough exterior Alison was a highly intelligent, warm, and sensitive person. I have known her for nine years and as her friend and in recent months her carer I will miss her greatly. Farewell Alison. May you now find peace, your tortured soul forever free from earthly pain."