Former Miss North Dakota Samantha Edwards Found Dead at 37

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Former Miss North Dakota Samantha Edwards was found dead in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday.

Police discovered Edwards' body after getting a call around 7:30 a.m., the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office said in a news release. She was 37 years old. Investigators are waiting for the medical examiner to determine cause of death.

Edwards was crowned Miss North Dakota USA in 2003.

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The Miss USA organization responded to the news on Thursday.

"We are saddened by the sudden loss of Samantha Edwards, Miss North Dakota USA 2003," the organization's official Facebook posted alongside pictures of Edwards. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. She will forever be a part of this organization."

A GoFundMe page has been started to help cover funeral expenses.

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"Samantha Edwards, affectionately known by most as 'Sami,' was one of the most vibrant, crazy, compassionate, loyal balls of energy you could ever come across in life," Jessica Dereschuk, who was crowned Miss Minnesota USA 2004 and who describes herself as Edwards' best friend, writes. "A conversation with her could either leave you full of adrenaline or utterly exhausted. She was a spitfire and with Sami you never knew what she'd throw your way - but you ALWAYS knew she would be there for you. She was awesome like that."

As of Thursday, the page has already raised over $18,000.