A 33-year-old mother who jumped to her death over Niagara Falls on Monday night reportedly pushed her two young children over the railing before following them, according to reports.
Chianti Means and her two children, nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means, died after they fell from an area near the crest of the falls.
The Gazette reported that State Park Police said security footage from Luna Park helped confirm the sequence of events, with Roman falling off first, followed by Mecca and then Means herself.
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: Police Say Mother and Two kids Died After Jumping off Niagara Falls
“We believe this was intentional,” New York State Police Public Information Officer Trooper James O’Callaghan said during a press conference. “I won’t get into what witnesses saw, as it’s an active investigation, but what they told us is alarming.”
The fathers of both children are cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues, according to local police.
After Means’ death, some of her Facebook posts resurfaced online, and they have revealed that she struggled with personal challenges.
In one of her posts from October 14, she expressed regret over her recent breakup with her daughter’s father and asked for “positive energy” from all that surrounded her.
Friends and community members have expressed their grief on social media by posting tributes to Means with one writing: “You really never know what anybody is going through. RIP.” Another said, “I can’t even bear to write a post about her and share memories.”
The New York State Police, called to Niagara Falls around 9 p.m. on the night of the incident, launched unmanned aircraft, aviation, and underwater recovery units to search for Means and her children.
However, authorities fear that the powerful falls may prevent their bodies from ever being recovered, and this is a major blow to Means’ family and loved ones.
On Friday night, the community gathered for a candlelight vigil to mourn the loss and honor Means and her children.
No motive has been released, yet police indicated that mental health issues could be a major factor that led to the death of Means and her two children.
The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is leading the probe but does not anticipate filing criminal charges, The Gazette’s report added.
