Former “Married at First Sight” star Andrew Jury was found dead in his jail cell just hours before a scheduled court appearance. Jury, who participated in New Zealand’s first season of “MAFS” in 2017, died early Thursday morning at Mt. Eden Corrections Facility in Auckland. Despite emergency staff’s efforts to save him, they were unsuccessful. The 33-year-old’s cause of death has not been released, but officials have stated that “there is no indication that his death is suspicious.”
Andrew Jury was facing multiple charges, including unlawfully entering a building, assault with intent to injure, willful damage, possession of an offensive weapon, and threatening behavior. His father, Roy Jury, expressed deep sadness over his son’s passing and mentioned concerns about Andrew’s mental health in the days leading up to his court hearing. Roy noted that it should have been a red flag when Andrew stopped communicating with family and friends.
Andrew’s former “MAFS” castmates, including Brett and Angel Rennall and Benjamin Blackwell, shared a collective statement acknowledging his passing. “It’s with the heaviest hearts we’ve come together to acknowledge the passing of Andrew Jury,” read the statement. They reflected on Andrew’s “friendly” attitude and his commitment to being “the life of the party,” despite his struggles.
Andrew was matched with Vicky Gleeson-Stokes during his time on the show. However, the pair were incompatible and broke up shortly after the finale. After leaving the reality TV world, Andrew chose to live a life largely out of the spotlight.
Andrew Jury’s death has left his family and friends bewildered and deeply saddened. His father, Roy, mentioned that Andrew had been struggling in prison since his arrest on April 2. “It should have been a red flag when Andy stopped communicating with family and friends,” Roy told the Herald. He added that the family is “deeply saddened and bewildered by this distressing event.”
Andrew’s former “MAFS” castmates also shared their condolences. “It’s with the heaviest hearts we’ve come together to acknowledge the passing of Andrew Jury,” they said. “Despite his struggles, Andrew was always friendly and the life of the party during our shared experience, and he really valued his time on the show. At this time, our entire cast wishes to send our deepest condolences and love to his family.”
Andrew Jury’s participation in “Married at First Sight” in 2017 left a lasting impression on his castmates and viewers. The reality dating show pairs random people together based on scientific matchmaking methods, and they meet for the first time on their wedding day. Andrew was matched with Vicky Gleeson-Stokes, but their relationship did not last beyond the finale. Andrew later criticized the show’s production.
A spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery, which produces “MAFS NZ” for its Three network, expressed their deepest condolences to Andrew’s family and friends. “WBD takes duty of care extremely seriously and has protocols in place regarding the wellbeing of cast and crew. All ‘MAFS NZ’ contributors have access to mental health professionals throughout the process, including pre-screening, during production, and after broadcast.”
“Married at First Sight New Zealand” returned to Kiwi television this year for the first time since 2020. Andrew Jury’s death has cast a shadow over the show’s return, leaving fans and former castmates mourning the loss of a man who, despite his struggles, was remembered as friendly and the life of the party.
Andrew’s last Instagram post with Vicky was shared in August 2018, where he wrote, “One year ago I married this cheeky as chick. We officially lasted one year wifey! We rule. Here’s to 1 more!!!” It’s unclear at what point the couple split, but Andrew later posted about his dating life and being banned on Tinder. In September 2020, he posted to Instagram, “Yesterday I was signing divorce papers, today I’m off to court, was I good was I bad, who knows?”
Andrew Jury’s death is a tragic reminder of the struggles that many face behind closed doors. His family, friends, and former castmates are left to grapple with the loss of a man who brought joy to many but struggled with his own demons. As investigations continue, the focus remains on remembering Andrew for the positive impact he had on those around him.
Source: New Zealand Herald, Entertainment Tonight, PopCrush
