Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
In a heartbreaking incident at Niagara Falls, a mother who climbed over the safety barriers with her two children before leaping off the edge had previously made numerous social media posts directed at her daughter’s father. The tragic event unfolded following these expressions of personal anguish.
On the night of October 28, New York state police received reports around 9:00pm from tourists who witnessed a mother and her two children go over the barrier on Luna Island at Niagara Falls.
Authorities have identified the mother as Chianti Means, and her children as nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means, in a statement released on October 30.
The report from officials indicated that Means had crossed the “safety guild rail” intentionally before going over the falls.
A representative from the New York State police explained to WKBW TV: “We’ve come to the conclusion that a 33-year-old mother, a nine-year-old son and a five-month-old were all gone over the falls. We do believe it was intentional but the circumstances of that investigation and the circumstances of what actually happened are still under investigation. But we know that they went over due to the information from park police and some of the information we were able to obtain through multiple different sources in and around Niagara Falls and pieces of evidence we were able to come across in search warrants.”
The police representative added: “They went there and they never came out. So that’s where we’re at. […] Like I said there’s a lot of safety railings, a lot of security measures at the state park so it’s not something where they just stumbled in.”
Efforts to locate the bodies of the three individuals continue as of this morning.
Social media activity from Means, under the alias Diamond Scott, has come to light, revealing her emotional messages about her relationship with Mecca’s father.
She wrote on Facebook last month: “I wish someone would love me because the man that’s suppose to does not.”
She later expressed: “Sick of irritation, anger, sadness and rage.”
On October 1, her emotions were again apparent as she posted: “Everyone please leave me alone I’m in love with my daughter father.” She added: “I want my family back. Respectfully Idgaf what I said about him before or what anyone else thinks.”
The day before the tragic incident, she posted: “Unfortunately for everyone who wanna get with me… my body only craves one person. GM.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.