A mother who jumped to her death over Niagara Falls pushed her children over the railing first, a report said.
Chianti Means, 33, plunged to her death on Monday evening with her children Roman Rossman, nine, and five-month-old Mecca Means.
State Park Police said they reviewed security footage from Luna Park, the area near the top of the falls, to determine the sequence of events. Niagara Gazette reports.
The video showed Roman going over the railing first, followed by Mecca and finally Means, police said.
State Police Public Information Officer James O’Callaghan said it did not appear the mother was chasing her children as they plunged to their deaths.
Mother Chianti Means, 33, who jumped from Niagara Falls, pushed her two children away first, according to a report
“We believe this was intentional,” he said at a news conference. “I’m not going to comment on what the witnesses saw because it’s still an active case, but what they told us is alarming.”
Police were called to the natural beauty spot to report that a woman had jumped from the waterfall around 9pm that day.
New York State Police Launch Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aviation and Underwater Recovery Unite to Aid in Search for Means and Her Children.
However, there are fears their bodies will never be found at the beautiful site, where 3,610 tonnes of water rushes down every second.
On Friday evening, the grieving community came together at a candlelight vigil to try to come to terms with the shocking loss.
No motive has yet been released for Means’ actions, but police are investigating a possible mental health angle, the Gazette reports.
The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting an investigation, but does not expect any criminal charges, according to the newspaper.
Roman (left) was the first to go over the railing, followed by her daughter, five-month-old daughter Mecca
New York State Police Launch Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aviation and Underwater Recovery Unite to Aid in Search for Means and Her Children
Means, along with her two children, are believed to have crossed the ‘safety guild rail’ on Luna Island at around 9pm on Monday evening (stock photo of the rail)
The children’s fathers are cooperating with the investigation.
After the Means’ death, old Facebook posts she had posted resurfaced online in which she expressed her desire to return to her daughter’s father.
On October 14, Means expressed regret that she and her daughter’s father were no longer together.
“Because I was a stupid pregnant b**** who swore up and down that I don’t want him,” she wrote about the breakup. “I need all the positive energy I can get,” she said.
Several of Means’ friends posted tributes to the mother of two on Facebook.
“You never know what someone is going through, RIP,” Niesha Eukeya said.
“I don’t even dare to write a post about her and share memories,” Mich Molina wrote.
