Coroner: Russell Armstrong Dead for More Than a Day Before Body Found

Reality show husband who committed suicide wasn't discovered by cops until more than 24 hours after his death

This makes a tragic situation even more painful for Russell Armstrong's family.

The Los Angeles coroner tells E! News that the body of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills husband wasn't found until more than 24 hours after he took his own life.

"Based on what I read I would assume that he had been dead for more than 24 hours," said Los Angeles Chief Coroner Investigator Harvey Craig.

A routine investigation into Armstrong's death is still under way, but the initial autopsy made clear the recently estranged husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Taylor Armstrong killed himself and was battling a severe depression which came on the heels of Taylor filing for divorce more than a month ago.

The 47-year-old father of three had been found on Monday at 8:16 p.m. after he failed to show for an afternoon meeting with his ex earlier that afternoon. Taylor and friends went on a frantic search for him, which ended tragically, with them finding Armstrong hanging from a wooden beam in a bedroom in his Mullholland Drive home. 

Taylor had filed for divorce from Armstrong after six years of marriage, citing physical and verbal abuse. In addition to his marriage woes, Armstrong had a long history of major financial and legal troubles.

Russell's longtime attorney, Ronald Richards, told E! News this week that after recently speaking to Armstrong, he "seemed fine...just dealing with the normal problems affiliated with the divorce." 

But, Richards added, Armstrong "was always depressed."

"He was always disappointed about the divorce and financial issues."

As for his depression, someone very close to another Housewives fixture is weighing in. Dr. Estella Sneider, who is a counselor and mother-in-law to Beverly Hills Housewife Kyle Richards, says dealing with suicidal patients is tricky.

"When I see general patients who have been suicidal, I ask what their plans are, why did they choose that. Explain the plans such as who will find them and what do they think people will think?" she told E! News. "It's amazing when people start exploring, they get to the message and the real pain that they're feeling. They let it go. Unfortunately, I wish more people would reach out and more professionals are there."

Sneider also said she has sent her condolences to Taylor and wanted to give her advice on talking to her young daughter about her father's suicide.

Taylor is currently planning Russell's funeral, which reportedly will have a closed casket due to the bodily injuries Armstrong caused himself when he died.