Niagara Falls: All we know about mum who died with her kids after jumping from waterfall
Police are searching for the bodies of Chianti Means and her two children Roman Rossman, nine, and five-month-old Mecca Means after the mother reportedly stepped over the safety railing with them at Niagara Falls
A mother is believed to have intentionally jumped off Niagara Falls with her two young children in tow.
Chianti Means, 33, climbed over a safety rail at the New York waterfall with her five-month-old baby Mecca, and nine-year-old son Roman Rossman before they plunged to their deaths, a New York police report suggests. The incident happened on Monday, however police are still searching for their bodies using unmanned aircraft and underwater means.
Emergency services responded to the park on Luna Island, a small island between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, at around 9pm on Monday. A spokesperson for the police said : "On October 28, 2024, at approximately 9:00 PM., New York State Park Police and the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to an incident on or around Goat Island in Niagara Falls, NY.
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"Investigation determined that three individuals, Chianti Means, 33-years-old, Roman Rossman, nine-years-old and Mecca Means, five-months-old all crossed over safety guild rail and went over Niagara Falls on Luna Island (attached to Goat Island). 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 member of the New York State Police said in an interview with WKBW TV: "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." According to the Falls' website, the group of three waterfalls never stop flowing due to its strong currents of the 3,160 tonnes of water that flow over the falls every second, even in freezing temperatures.
It was revealed on Thursday that Ms Means previously shared a message on Facebook about how her kids were her "reason to live". Messages on Chaianti's Facebook page show that the mother had made a touching post about her love for her son when he was just two years old.
In January 2017, she shared a picture that read: "I love my son! I gave him life... he gave me a reason to live." It's the only post that remains on the mother's Facebook profile.
A close friend of Ms Means, who is thought to have been a domestic violence counsellor, said she is "sick to her stomach" over the tragic news. Tourists reportedly watched in horror as Chianti, Mecca and her older child, fell to their deaths.
Expressing her grief on Facebook, Mich Molina, a friend of the family, said: "I can't even bear to write a post about her and share memories. I am literally sick to my stomach and I can't even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children."
Another friend wrote in tribute: "You really never know what anybody is going through…" Writing online, another person said: "This case is so sad!! I wish she would have talked to someone... My heart and prayers go out to all her family and friend."
A further post states: "Praying more than ever for the ones who have to endure such losses." Chianti was from Niagara Falls, the city in Canada which takes its name from the nearby waterfalls.
The area is run by the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation, and is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More than 8 million people pass through the park each year, according to the state agency.
The Samaritans is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or head to the website to find your nearest branch. You matter.
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