Paula Goodspeed, 30, was found dead in a car near Abdul’s Los Angeles-area home the evening of Nov. 11. Police are treating the case as a suspected suicide, though a cause of death has yet be determined.

Authorities found her body in a car bearing the vanity license plate “ABL LV” after Goodspeed’s parents reported her missing and expressed concern that she might hurt herself.

E! television reported that sources said Goodspeed attempted suicide recently by overdosing on pills outside Abdul’s Sherman Oaks, Calif., home and had sent the star several threatening letters and left her packages.

Abdul was not home at the time Goodspeed’s body was discovered.

“I am deeply shocked and saddened at what transpired yesterday,” Abdul said in a statement. “My heart and prayers go out to her family.”

Goodspeed’s audition on “American Idol,” was aired in 2006. He off-kilter performance of “Proud Mary” was roundly panned by judges including Abdul, and Simon Cowell mocked the contestant for wearing braces. A film of her pre-audition interview showed several life-sized drawings Goodspeed had made of Abdul.

When the judges remarked upon her name and physical resemblance to Abdul, Goodspeed responded that she had been drawing pictures of Abdul since childhood, calling the former Laker Girl “beautiful.”