Topics: New York, US News, Mental Health
Just over a week on from a woman 'intentionally' jumping into Niagara Falls with her nine-year-old son and five-month-old daughter, another woman is suspected to have jumped into the famous falls.
Authorities in New York first launched an investigation on October 28 after receiving a report at around 9pm local time that a woman - later identified as Chianti Means - had gone over the safety guard rail at the falls with her two children.
Police searched for the mom, as well as nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means, but their bodies are yet to be found.
Trooper James O’Callaghan, a State Police Public Information Officer, described the incident as 'intentional', but police confirmed that they are still trying to figure out what happened.
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After reviewing security footage of Luna Park, they believe that she entered the water with her children intentionally, according to the Niagara Gazette.
The outlet confirmed that Roman was the first to enter the water, followed by Mecca and then their mom, as per State Police at a press conference.
When asked whether Chianti was chasing her children, O’Callaghan said: “No, we believe this was intentional. Not going to get into what the witnesses saw because it’s still an active case, but it is alarming what they told us.''
They explained that she climbed over the four-foot guardrail and now both fathers are cooperating with the police.
And now, in an eerily tragic turn of events, a second woman is also reported to have gone missing at the falls.
Witnesses believe that the unidentified woman entered the water at Goat Island, near Horseshoe Falls.
Police said to WGRZ: “An immediate search of the area commenced using Park Police drone, foot searches of the gorge, and visual searches from overlooks."
In relation to Means’ case, her cousin Bierra Hamilton claimed the 33-year-old mother was suffering from postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, is ‘a mood disorder that occurs after childbirth’ and the symptoms can range from mild to severe. These include, feeling depressed, having thoughts of harming yourself or your child, or finding yourself crying regularly over your feelings.
Hamilton said: "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.”
Means also went by the name of Diamond Scott, with a facebook post by her cousin reading: "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."
UNILAD has contacted the Niagara Falls Police Department for comment.
If you feel like you may suffer from Postpartum Depression, dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to 988 Lifeline.
