Tyler Lambert Suicide Mirrors Diff'rent Strokes Mother's Death

Tyler Lambert, son of Diff'rent Strokes star Dana Plato, reportedly committed suicide right before Mother's Day on May 6, 2010. Lambert, 25, had an alcohol and drug use issue according to Joan "Joni" Richardson, Tyler's grandmother, as shared through a recent People interview. Richardson paints a picture of a grandson who still held a candle of deep loss within his heart for his mother.

But what else can be said of Tyler Lambert? Five years ago Lambert filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Robert Menchaca, Dana Plato's Hispanic fiance. Lambert was sure that Menchaca could have prevented his mother's death and was seeking $20,000 through the suit. TMZ has not only reported the lawsuit they also share a copy of the handwritten document. The lawsuit resulted in a media frenzy of accusations and assumptions surrounding just what Menchaca had to do with Plato's death.

Prior to his mother's death Plato battled a decade of downfalls. In 1991 Plato was arrested for robbing a Vegas video store and later for forging Valium prescriptions. The public proved harsh on Plato over these two acts of crime.

But rest assured the final Dana Plato interview on the Howard Stern show before Dana Plato's death could be considered difficult where listeners called in describing her as an "ex-con lesbian drug addict with mental problems" and so on. She denied all of the above as on ongoing reality while the show aired. Listen to the responses on YouTube.

She shared with Stern, a day before her death, to have $125 grand stashed that went untouched and that she done two ads for Victoria Secret. On the next day, her and her fiance stopped at Menchaca's mother's house for Mother's Day. Soon after Dana Plato overdosed on Vanadom and Vicodin. Plato and Menchaca lived in their Winnebago. Plato layed down in that RV for her a final time during the visit according to People.

Menchaca's mother is a nurse who tried to revive Plato but couldn't. The only problem many could note right off the bat was Menchaca's claims that prior her "nap" Plato was sweating with chills. But he failed to get his mother, the nurse, until it was too late. That is if he even wanted to.

Moore Police Sgt. stated that Plato was to be ruled an accidental death due to no signs of a suicide attempt but on another note claims the act was of suicide. There was no word of life insurance policy publicly. Only her claims of the stashed $125 g's.

Oh and did we mention that Menchaca only met Plato four months prior to her death? Did we fail to mention Menchaca took a camera to the funeral hoping take photos of Plato for a couple grand against the family's wishes? Who could forget his claims that the RV was his, even when she allegedly paid for it as it was in her name? Or maybe you'll love this one - Menchaca asked for her underwear and ring back. Tyler Lambert took all of this in, and so did America thanks again to People. Tyler Lambert was battling this and his mother's death since the early age of 14.

But sadly, Tyler Lambert was found dead. The Tulsa Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner's office confirmed to ABC News that Tyler Lambert died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, to the head. Toxicology tests are pending at this time.

Perhaps in the near future the truth behind Lambert's death will shed some light on motive. He still had much to live for - just like his mother.
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Source(s): "Son of the late Dana Plato", "Seeking Serenity", People.com; "Wrongful death lawsuit", TMZ.com; YouTube.com; "Tyler Lambert suicide", ABC News