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The story surrounding a mother who threw her two small children and herself over Niagara Falls has taken a somber turn as family members reveal that she had been battling postpartum depression. Chianti Means, a resident of Niagara Falls, is believed to have leapt from Luna Island, a secluded overlook on Goat Island, along with her 9-year-old son, Roman Rossman, and 5-month-old baby, Mecca Means.
Her cousin, Bierra Hamilton, has given multiple interviews and revealed that Means did not end her life due to a relationship issue as some speculated online.
“Understand this — postpartum [depression] is very real and needs a cure,” Hamilton stated. “Her death wasn’t over a man. My cousin was silently fighting depression alone.”
Means, who worked as a domestic violence counselor and graduated from a school in Buffalo, had given birth to baby Mecca just five months prior. Hamilton described her cousin as having a “beautiful soul” who loved her children and family deeply.
“I never had a bad memory with her. [She was] so full of life and wisdom. She and her kids will be missed so much,” she added.
Rescue teams have been unable to locate the bodies of Means and her children since the incident on October 30. Luna Island, where the family jumped, is known for its picturesque views but is also one of the more secluded overlooks in Niagara Falls State Park.
The area is separated from the rest of the park and features only a chest-high railing before the steep drop. With more than 8 million people visiting the park each year, the incident adds to a large list of tragic incidents at the landmark.
Most recently in early 2023, another mother jumped into the Niagara Gorge with her son. While she did not survive, rescuers were able to save the five-year-old boy.
According to New York State Police, the family bypassed safety measures and crossed over a guardrail before falling from Luna Island, which is connected to Goat Island. Trooper James O’Callaghan, a spokesperson for the New York State Park Police, confirmed that the mother’s decision to jump with her children was intentional.
“They went there and they never came out,” O’Callaghan stated during a press briefing on October 30th.
It is now being reported by multiple outlets that both children were thrown over the falls before the mother jumped herself. One such example is the New York Post.
“It is alarming what they told us,” O’Callaghan remarked, highlighting the complexity of the situation.
While the investigation is ongoing, O’Callaghan noted that determining the motivations behind such actions can be challenging.
“Based on the information we have, we do know it was an intentional act, but the reason why is tougher to answer,” he said.
Recovery efforts have been extensive but have yet to yield any results. Search teams have been scouring the lower Niagara River for any signs of the victims deploying boats along the river and utilizing drones and helicopters to assist in the search. Volunteers have also been using binoculars to scan the shoreline.
The powerful currents of the river pose a significant challenge. Bodies that go over the falls are often carried downstream with many victims washing up at the Niagara Falls Power Vista or further into Lake Ontario.
As of Saturday morning, the bodies of Chianti Means and her children have not been recovered and authorities caution that it may take days or even weeks for them to be discovered. It depends entirely on the current of the Niagara River.
25 to 40 bodies reportedly go over Niagara Falls each year - most without public awareness. We will provide any updates as they become available.
Mother who Threw Children and herself over Niagara Falls Suffered from Postpartum Depression