During her teen years, she struggled with an addiction to heroin, and at the time of her death, was attempting to stay clean while working at Erewhon Health Food Store in Los Angeles, California. 

On May 18, 1997, Andersen died of an accidental overdose of Alcohol and Drugs. She was 21 years old. On May 25, 1997, funeral services were held at Malibu United Methodist Church and Andersen's ashes were scattered at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California.