OJ Simpson's Sister Dies

OJ Simpson’s sister Carmelita Durio, 60, died yesterday in a Sacramento-area hospital from complications of diabetes.

When Simpson was told the bad news he broke down in his prison cell at the Locklove Detention Center near Reno, Nevada, a source familiar with the situation told RadarOnline.

Durio attended Simpson’s Las Vegas trial for armed robbery and kidnapping in connection with the theft of sports memorabilia from a hotel room. She and OJ were extremely close.

“Since Simpson was sent to prison Carmelita’s health deteriorated,” a source said. “He blames his Las Vegas legal woes and prison sentence for his sister’s death. He believes sending him to prison broke her heart and she’s dead because of it.”

Tom Scotto, a family friend, said her kidneys had failed in recent days.

"I think it was the stress. She just couldn't take it," he said, noting that she had declined since October, when she last saw her brother led out of a courtroom in handcuffs. That day, she collapsed and paramedics were called to revive her.

"Ever since the trial she just hasn't been well," he said.

According to Tom, Carmelita was taken to a hospital about three weeks ago, was released to a rehabilitation facility but then was returned to the hospital recently and fell into a coma.

"Her kidneys just shut down," he said. "They don't know what happened."

He said Durio's husband, Charles, and another Simpson sister, Shirley Baker, were with her when she died.