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The search for the bodies of a mother and her two young children who jumped over Niagara Falls earlier this week remains ongoing as authorities work tirelessly to recover them. The incident occurred on Monday night at Luna Island, where 33-year-old Chianti Means was with her 9-year-old and 5-month-old son.
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. Authorities believe the 9-year-old climbed over the guard rail first, followed by her mother and baby brother.
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.
Witness testimonies have raised concerns about the circumstances leading up to the fall, with reports suggesting that the 9-year-old was forced to go over the edge by his mother.
“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.
Search Continues for Bodies of Mother and Children who Jumped over Niagara Falls