>>>
but we begin with an autopsy set to be performed today on the estranged wife of
robert kennedy jr
., a day after the 52-year-old's body was found at her home just north of new
york city
. nbc's
jeff rossen
has the latest. good morning to you.
>> reporter:
good morning to you. police are now trying to figure out exactly what happened inside the family home. but
law enforcement
sources now tell nbc news this is an apparent suicide. and "the new york times" is citing two sources familiar with the case that she did it by hanging herself. the kennedys' latest tragedy playing out here on the family property in upscale bedford, new york. by the time police arrived wednesday,
mary kennedy
was dead. the estranged wife of
robert f. kennedy jr
., mother of their four children, apparently killed herself. unclear if she left a note explaining why.
>>
the idea that somebody in that family would kill himself or herself, i would have considered that unthinkable.
>> reporter:
the kennedys separated two years ago as
mary kennedy
battled with drug and alcohol problems. in may
2010
, she was arrested for dwi and pled guilty to a lesser charge. months later, she was stopped for
driving under the influence
of prescription pills. that charge was later dropped.
>>
so they were all very arare of the ravages of alcohol and drugs. and she, unfortunately, became caught up in that.
>> reporter:
there were happier times. here's mary standing in the back of their home joined by
rfk jr
. and a builder. today
robert f. kennedy jr
. is a prominent environmental lawyer seen often in recent years with actress
cheryl hines
. and he has endured tragedy before. when he was 9, his uncle,
president john f. kennedy
, was assassina assassinated. when he was just 14, his father, senator rob either f. kennedy, was assassinated. his brother, david, died of a
drug overdose
in
1984
. and another brother, michael, was killed in a skiing accident in
1997
. his cousin,
john f. kennedy jr
., died in a
plane crash
in
1999
. and just three years ago, there was the loss of his uncle,
senator ted kennedy
. now this, his estranged wife's body found in the family home.
>>
it's devastating beyond imagination to them to have this happen to them. yet again. how do you handle it? you don't handle it. it handles you. and you try to go on.
>> reporter:
the
kennedy family
now asking for privacy, but they have released this statement saying, "mary inspired our family with her kindness, her love, her gentle soul and generous spirit." matt, the medical examiner here in
westchester county
will perform an autopsy on the body later
“ ”