Warning: This article discusses suicide, which may be distressing for some readers.
Authorities have provided an update on the tragic incident involving Chianti Means, who reportedly ‘intentionally’ leaped to her death with her two children after climbing over a barrier at Niagara Falls.
Means led her nine-year-old son, Roman Rossman, and her five-month-old daughter, Mecca Means, to Luna Island, situated on the US side of the falls, around 9pm on Monday (October 28).
The official report notes that Means, who had posted two final messages on Facebook a month before the event, ‘crossed over’ the ‘safety guard rail’ before going ‘over’ the falls, with the act deemed ‘intentional in nature’.
The Independent reports the investigation has found, “The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation. New York State Park Police and State Police search/rescue efforts were conducted with negative results.
“This incident deems no public threat to safety.”
A search and rescue operation was initiated to find and recover the bodies. A spokesperson from the New York State Police shared details with WKBW TV on October 30.
The spokesperson stated, “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.”
The spokesperson confirmed that the bodies have not been recovered yet: “No, not at this time.”
He further described the terrain on Luna Island, on the New York side of Niagara Falls, where they jumped.
“This location, to put it into perspective, is right on the edge of Niagara Falls so you can see the falls crest right over. It’s a vantage point where people would go not to view the falls but to be right next to the falls.
There is quite a bit of height difference but it’s not as much the height, it’s the rocks and terrain that’s at the bottom – it’s not like you’re jumping, you know, into a pond or some fresh body of water; it’s very rocky, the terrain is obviously very deadly.”
According to The Independent, unmanned aircraft and water units are involved in the ongoing investigation.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or struggling with mental health issues, support is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for chat support. The Crisis Text Line can also be accessed by texting MHA to 741741.
If immediate mental health assistance is required, contact the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This helpline is a free, confidential service available to everyone 24/7.