The Voice US star Ryan Whyte Maloney had an argument with his fiancée before his death, police have claimed. It was confirmed on Tuesday that Ryan Whyte Maloney took his own life aged 44, with the Clark County coroner in Nevada confirming the singer's cause of death was suicide. The official cause listed as a gunshot wound to the head. However, law enforcement officers have now claimed that in the minutes leading up to his death, he argued with his fiancée.
According to a police report, Ryan's fiancée claims that he was intoxicated and struck up an argument after they left the New York-New York Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where he'd earlier entertained guests during a performance. However, on the drive home, his fiancée asked if he'd collected her jacket. She claims that Ryan didn't have it and she continued to question him, leading to him becoming agitated and branding her a "b***h." During the argument, Ryan is said to have reached into the glove compartment, took a gun and exited the vehicle.
Just moments after, his fiancée told cops that she'd heard a gunshot, instantly rolling down her window to call for Maloney but he had already left the surrounding area. Seconds later, she ran after Maloney and heard a second gunshot and saw him fall to the floor, reports People magazine. Ryan was sadly pronounced dead on arrival by emergency service responders. It's claimed that in the past, he had contemplated suicide and had previously self-harmed. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner in Las Vegas confirmed that the manner of Ryan's death was being treated as suicide.
Just a day before his untimely death, the singer shared a video on his Instagram Stories from a bar, saying: "Nine fine Irishmen for a private party tonight, and we will be rocking." Ryan rose to fame in 2014 when he competed on Season 6 of The Voice. He secured his spot on Blake Shelton's team after performing Journey's song Lights during a blind audition. Ryan made it to the Top 5 finalists on Blake's team and even performed in the Season 6 finale after competing in battle rounds. During his time on the show, Ryan performed four songs including Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It, Shinedown's Second Chance, Rascal Flatt's Easy, and Journey's Lights.
Born in Traverse City, Michigan, in 1981, Ryan had a musical upbringing, playing the guitar, violin, cello, and drums from a young age. He later took the lead role in a prog-rock band, and in 2005, he recorded the album Tomorrow's Another Day. For a decade, he toured with the band before embarking on his solo career. His records were already being played on country radio stations in Michigan, Nevada, Colorado and California. After competing on The Voice in 2014, he continued his music career. In addition to singing and songwriting for other artists, he also focused on his career as a studio musician/engineer/producer. In January 2023, Ryan released a single on country radio called Don't Put Me in a Box, followed by Love with Nowhere to Go, Sleepwalk and Toast To Tonight.
