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It’s a sad day for Teen Mom fans. Whitney Purvis, one of the women featured in season 1 of 16 and Pregnant, has announced the death of her eldest child. Purvis shared the heartbreaking update about Weston Gosa Jr. via a Facebook post. Additional details are being slowly released. Weston Gosa Sr., the boy’s father, has not made an official statement.

Weston Gosa Jr.dead at 16

Whitney Purvis has announced the death of her son, Weston Gosa Jr., via Facebook. He was just 16. She did not share details of his passing. MTV featured Weston Jr.’s birth on season 1 of 16 and Pregnant. The episode followed Purvis and her then-boyfriend, Weston Gosa, as they navigated a complicated home life in the lead-up to Weston Jr.’s arrival.

Weston’s stepmother, Amy Gosa, shared more information on the teen’s death. In her own Facebook update, she said that Weston had been fighting several health issues, including diabetes. She went on to explain the teen was found unresponsive early in the morning. The family and then the emergency responders administered CPR. It was not successful. Doctors pronounced him dead at an area hospital. Gosa said an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause. Weston Jr. was living with his father and stepmother at the time of his death.

Some of Weston’s health issues were discussed during the family’s brief time on TV. While it is unclear when he was diagnosed with diabetes, he was born with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. According to several sources, Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a genetic disorder that can negatively impact the lungs and liver. While uncommon, it is believed that the deficiency is underdiagnosed and often goes undetected until adulthood in mild cases. It is unclear how severe Weston Jr.’s case was.

MTV did not include Whitney and Weston on ‘Teen Mom’

Whitney Purvis and Weston Gosa remain one of the more memorable couples from 16 and Pregnant despite not being featured on Teen Mom. The former duo was just one of two featured couples MTV did not include in the first iteration of Teen Mom. It is unclear if Weston Jr.’s early health issues played into that decision, although it seems unlikely.

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Early seasons of Teen Mom followed Maci Bookout, Farrah Abraham, Catelynn Lowell, and Amber Portwood as they navigated the early years of motherhood. All four women appeared in season 1 of 16 and Pregnant, along with Purvis and Ebony Jackson. Jackson did not appear on Teen Mom, either.

In the years since their 16 and Pregnant episode, Purvis and Gosa welcomed a second child before splitting up for good. Purvis lost custody of both boys at some point. According to TMZ, Purvis was arrested in 2024 for failing to make child support payments. She previously found herself in legal trouble for making terroristic threats. According to Celeb Dirty Laundry, police picked up Gosa Sr. in 2012 for various drug-related charges.

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