‘Power Rangers’ star Jason David Frank’s wife reveals actor’s cause of death

(CNN) — Jason David Frank’s wife confirmed that the “Power Rangers” star’s death was the result of suicide.

In a statement provided to PeopleTammie Frank, spoke out in an effort to set the record straight on both her passing and the status of their relationship.

She said her husband had “tragically lost his life to suicide last week.”

He was 49 years old.

“While Jason was a household name to some, we lived a very normal life with ups and downs, just like anyone else. He has shocked and saddened me beyond belief to see the media turn my family’s tragedy into a fantastic tale,” he said. “Since Jason’s death, I have been harassed online and I can no longer bear to see my husband’s good name maligned.”

Frank said she and her husband had been working through some issues in their marriage, adding: “Her death shocks me as much as anyone else.”

“The truth is, I had no idea that Jason was thinking of ending things,” she said. “Yes, I had had mental health issues and depression before, but I could never predict what would happen that night,” she added.

According to Frank, their 19-year marriage had its “troubles,” including the loss just a year ago of their daughter Shayla, whom she said her husband helped raise.

“Between losing her and helping raise her baby, Jason and I started having marital problems,” Frank said. “For anyone who has known the pain of losing a child, I know you understand how such a loss changes things in a marriage.”

They decided to separate, he said, but six weeks ago they opted to reconcile, which included a weekend getaway they were on when he died.

The night of her death, he said, they had a heart-to-heart after returning from an event at a bar.

“To help Jason wind down and sober up before bed, I went downstairs to get us snacks from the lobby,” she told People. “I must have been gone no more than 10 minutes. I went back upstairs and started knocking on the door with no answer. I knocked repeatedly and kept calling his name to open the door.

Frank ended his statement by asking people to “stop making assumptions and let my family grieve in peace.”

“All we want is to remember Jason and our happiest memories, and get over the pain of losing a loved one. I just ask for sympathy and understanding during this difficult time,” he said. “To all of Jason’s fans and supporters and our family, thank you for the kind words and wishes from him, and may God bless you all.”

Editor’s note: If you or a loved one have thought about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255. The line provides free and confidential assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for people in suicidal or distressed crises. You can learn more about their services here, including their guide on what to do if you see suicidal signs on social media. You can also text the word TALK to 741741.

You can also call 1-800-273-8255 to talk to someone about how you can help someone in crisis. Call 1-866-488-7386 for TrevorLifeline, a suicide prevention counseling service for the LGBTQ community.

For assistance outside the US, the International Association for Suicide Prevention provides a global directory of international resources and hotlines. You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide.

See here the suicide care and prevention lines in Latin America and Spain.