Robert Yancy Dies; Natalie Cole's Son was 39

Robert Yancy, the only child of the late R&B singer Natalie Cole, was found dead in his Los Angeles home late Monday. He was 39.

A friend of Yancy's reportedly found his body in his apartment in San Fernando Valley while checking up on him, according to the New York Daily News.

He was concerned after he hadn't heard from Yancy for several days.

According to the Los Angeles County coroner's office, Yancy is believed to have died from natural causes. However, no one will know exactly what caused his death until an autopsy is completed, The Associated Press noted.

Yancy's aunt, Timolin Cole Augustus, told the AP her nephew's death "appears to be a sudden heart attack," which is the same thing his father, Marvin, passed away from in 1985. He was 34.

"We are just numb," Cole Augustus said, according to the AP. "The only consolation is that he's with the person he loved the most," she added.

Yancy's mother, Natalie Cole, died in December 2015 from heart failure. She was 65.

Yancy, who was a drummer in his mother's band, struggled to get past Natalie's death, Cole Augustus said, adding that he was doing better and was performing again.

"He was in a happy place. He was feeling good," she told the AP. "We were looking forward to celebrating his 40th birthday."

Yancy is recognized for playing the saxophone on the 1997 SWV album "A Special Christmas," the Daily News noted. He also played percussion on his mother's "Take a Look" album in 1993.

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