Howard K Stern's Sister: "Anna Nicole Was Too Low to Fight Illness"  2/14/07

The woman who was set to become Anna Nicole Smith's sister-in-law has revealed the model/actress was so depressed following the overdose death of her son last September (06) she suffered illness after illness in the weeks leading up to her death.

Bonnie Stern has flown to The Bahamas to comfort her devastated brother Howard K Stern, who was planning to wed Smith later this month (FEB07), when he heard she had been found unconscious in her suite at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on 8 February (07).

She states she was far from surprised when she heard about the tragedy - because Anna Nicole had spent the last weeks of her life trying to fight illnesses she was too low to beat.

Stern says, "Her immunity was so low. She was so depressed. She kept getting sick and her body just probably broke down."

Meanwhile, Stern has confirmed reports Anna Nicole was planning to wed her brother in The Bahamas, where they have been living since last summer (06).

She adds, "They had plans to get a yacht and to buy an engagement ring. They were going to get married."

The yacht she is referring to is the one Stern was renovating in Fort Lauderdale when he heard his girlfriend had been found unconscious.

She reveals to TV show Access Hollywood that when her brother left to put the finishing touches to the boat, which was to be shipped to The Bahamas the following day (09FEB07), Smith was running a fever of 105 degrees.

Stern says, "When he left her, she was sleeping."