American Idol

Mom says Alexis Cohen was awaiting call-back audition when she died

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Alexis Cohen auditions in Philadelphia during season seven of American Idol. (AP Photo)

Alexis Cohen, the Idol contestant killed in a hit-and-run accident last weekend, had apparently auditioned for the show for a third time this summer.

Her mom lives in Allentown and told The Express-Times that Alexis had tried out in Boston, earned her way past round one of the process and was preparing for her call-back audition — those begin next month.

Alexis, 25, went to the New Jersey shore last weekend to escape the heat and visit the Six Flags Great Adventure amusement park, her mother said. She was found dead at 4 a.m. Saturday in Seaside Heights, N.J.

Here’s a link to the Express-Times story that includes the interview with her mom. It ran before police arrested Daniel Bark, the driver they say is responsible for the crash.

For the latest on the arrest, go to this story from The Star-Ledger. Police claim that Bark had hit a parked car, fled bicycle police and then was subsequently stopped by police in patrol cars and issued several summonses — before Cohen’s body was found.

And, about five years ago, he was cited for underage drinking and driving and had his license suspended for nine months, according to The Star-Ledger.

Alexis gained fame for an angry tirade against Simon Cowell after her first Idol audition in 2007 ended in rejection.

Her mother told The Morning Call in Allentown that show producers goaded her into that now infamous rant. Here’s a link to a story that appeared after her first audition and to The Morning Call’s story about her death.

Meanwhile, the Idol community is voicing its sympathy to the Cohen family. That includes Paula Abdul, who sent out this tweet this morning: “My heart goes out to the family of Alexis Cohen. She showed great courage at Idol and let’s all send our prayers to her family now.”

Daniel Bark (right) during a Monday court appearance in Ocean County, N.J. (AP Photo)

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