Sophia Hutchins, the longtime manager and close friend of Caitlyn Jenner, was laid to rest this week. The 29-year-old died earlier this month, devastating Jenner. While the duo had a close professional relationship, they were also deeply bonded as friends. They were so close, in fact, that rumors once swirled that things may have turned romantic. They both insisted the relationship was parental, and Jenner even gushed about Hutchins’ impact on her life.

Caitlyn Jenner once gushed about Sophia Hutchins

Sophia Hutchins and Caitlyn Jenner’s bond was called into question so frequently over the years that Hutchins eventually agreed to sit for an interview with the New York Times to clarify the situation. During the 2019 chat, Hutchins revealed that she lived with Jenner in Malibu, but they were purely platonic friends. Jenner didn’t want to sit for a full interview but did offer a statement to the publication. She couldn’t help but give Hutchins a glowing review. Jenner called the then 23-year-old “one of the top minds in her field.” She went on to say that Hutchins’ “value in my life is undeniable.”

Sophia Hutchins and Caitlyn Jenner met in 2015 through a hairstylist. Jenner hired Hutchins, who assumed the role of personal manager in 2017 following Jenner’s split from Kris Jenner. She also became the CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation. Fans best know Hutchins from her involvement in I Am Cait.

How did Sophia Hutchins die?

Sophia Hutchins died at just 29 in an ATV accident. The accident occurred close to Jenner’s Malibu residence on July 2. According to police, she was driving a 2013 Polaris on Decker Canyon Road when she rear-ended a sedan and veered off a 350-foot ravine, falling to her death. It is unclear why Hutchins was operating the ATV, but People notes Jenner was seen at the scene of the accident. She was not riding with Hutchins, nor was she involved in the accident directly.

The ATV is currently at the bottom of the ravine, along with the wreckage of a vehicle that crashed in the same area previously. Towing companies appear to be unable to remove the wreckage due to the distance.