How does someone so young suffer a fatal stroke?
According to TMZ sources, the former Playboy star took a hard fall while taking part in a Los Angeles photo shoot last week.
The incident caused such severe neck pain that May was taken to the hospital and a few hours after seeing a doctor for her injuries.
On Friday, however, the issue remained, causing May to Tweet about it to followers:
"Pinched a nerve in my neck on a photoshoot and got adjusted this morning. It really hurts!"
Tragically, sources believe the 34-year-old model did NOT actually pinch a nerve, but instead tore the carotid artery in her neck.
Physicians told her family members that this tear caused a blood clot ... which broke off and caused her stroke on Monday.
Such a development is known as a carotid artery dissection.
May was taken off life support on Thursday night and passed away while surrounded by loved ones.
We offer them our deepest condolences.