Ben Saunders cause of death: What happened to the first winner of The Voice? Police say ‘no crime’

Dutch singer Ben Saunders, winner of The Voice Netherlands in 2011, has died at 43. His body was found near Arnhem. Police said no crime was involved.

Dutch singer Ben Saunders, who won the first edition of the singing reality TV show, The Voice in the Netherlands in 2011, has passed away.

Ben Saunders, the first winner of The Voice reality TV show, has died. (Ben Saunders/ Instagram)

De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper, reported that the singer was found death at the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, near Arnhem South in the Netherlands. He was 43.

“We can only confirm that a body was found yesterday near the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen," the local police said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. "Investigation makes clear there is no crime involved. We never answer about one’s identity due to privacy.”

Ben Saunders Cause Of Death

A cause of death has not been mentioned. Additionally, details regarding how the body ended up in the lake has not been released.

The death of the singer was also confirmed by his brother, Dean Saunders. "My dear little brother passed away today… I have never felt pain like this before…," Dean Saunders wrote on Instagram. "What a terrible day for all of us… We have to learn to live with this, and I hope it is treated with respect…”

No cause of the late singer's death was revealed in his brother's post, as well.

Who Was Ben Saunders?

Born on July 9, 1983, in London, Ben Saunders grew up in the Netherlands. In the January 21, 2011 finale of the first ever season of 'The Voice,' Saunders defeated Pearl Jozefzoon with 59% of the public vote, making him effectively the first winner of the Voice format anywhere in the world.

Additionally, Ben Saunders was also a tattoo artist and was popularly referred to as "Tattoo Ben." He recently opened a tattoo parlor in Arnhem. Saunders' biggest hit was “Kill For a Broken Heart,” which reached No. 1 in the Dutch charts. He released two albums, You Thought You Knew Me by Now (2011) and Heart & Soul (2012).

His older brother Dean Saunders was also a talent-show winner, winning Popstars in the Netherlands just one day after Ben's Voice victory.

Saunders lived with his family in Arnhem, in the eastern Netherlands. According to reports, his wife is Janita Engels, and they have three children: daughters Stacey and Nikia and son Benji.

It is important to note that Stacey and Benji are the only two biological children of Saunders and Engels. Nikia was born from a previous relationship of Janita Engels.