A heartbreaking incident unfolded at Niagara Falls State Park on Monday, October 28th when Chianti Means, 33, and her two children, 9-year-old Roman Rossman and 5-month-old Mecca Means, jumped to their deaths in what authorities are calling an “intentional” act.
New York State Police responded to Goat Island around 9am after first-hand reports that individual(s) had gone over the falls. According to police, the family bypassed safety measures and crossed over a safety 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 with absolute certainty that the mother's decision to jump to her death, and bring her two young children with her, was intentional.
“They went there and they never came out,” O’Callaghan stated during a press briefing on October 30th.
He emphasized the presence of numerous security measures at the Falls, which indicates the family did not accidentally stumble into a dangerous area. While the bodies of the victims have not yet been recovered, police are actively investigating every lead to learn more about the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
O’Callaghan noted that witness testimonies has raised concerns, although he refrained from disclosing specific details due to the ongoing investigation.
According to sources, the 9-year-old did not willingly jump over the falls and was observed attempting to escape as his mother dragged him toward the edge. Our source has wished to remain confidential.
“It is alarming what they told us,” he remarked. His comments merely highlighted the complexity of the situation.
O’Callaghan also acknowledged the difficulty in determining motivations in these types of situations. “Based on the information we have, we do know it was an intentional act, but the reason why is tougher to answer,” he said.
Motive Unknown for Mother Jumping Over Niagara Falls with 5-month-old and 9-year-old