Warning: This article contains discussion of suicide which some readers may find distressing
The cousin of Chianti Means has refuted the rumors surrounding her tragic death after she and her children went over Niagara Falls.
Authorities have stated that they suspect Means took her own life ‘intentionally’ when she jumped with her two young children.
On the evening of October 28, Means reportedly climbed over a barrier at the renowned tourist site and leaped with her nine-year-old son, Roman Rossman, and her five-month-old daughter, Mecca Means.
The investigation is still underway, and the police have yet to recover any bodies from the incident.
Chianti’s cousin, Beirra Hamilton, has turned to social media to quash the widespread speculation about the reasons behind her cousin’s actions.
Hamilton emphasized that her cousin, known sometimes as Diamond Scott online, did not end her life because of a former partner but due to mental health struggles.
She posted on Facebook: “Diamond Scott did not end her life over no man. Let’s just be clear. It’s no evidence of that. YALL BE LOUD AND WRONG.”
According to a report by the Mirror, Ms. Hamilton also stated: “Understand this – postpartum [depression] is very real and needs a cure. Her death wasn’t over a man. My cousin was silently fighting depression alone.”
Search efforts have continued, and last week, a New York State Police spokesperson provided an update on the situation.
“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.
“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.”
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.