Chianti Means, a 33-year-old mother, and her two children were identified as the victims who fell over Niagara Falls on the night of October 28, 2024. The plunge was determined to be a deliberate act by the New York State Police. The children were her nine-year-old son, Roman Rossman, and her five-month-old daughter, Mecca Means.
“The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation,” stated the State Police in a press release.
On receiving reports that three individuals had fallen over the safety rail at Luna Island, situated between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, law enforcement authorities arrived at Niagara Falls State Park, New York, around 9 p.m. on Monday. Despite immediate search operations by State Park Police and State Police, the victims could not be located.
Means, a resident of Niagara Falls, New York, was a domestic violence counselor by profession. She held both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University at Buffalo. Prior to the incident, she had expressed difficulties in her relationship and separation from her infant’s father on social media.
As reported by police officials, Luna Falls, with its nearly 200-foot drop, has numerous security measures in place, indicating that the victims did not accidentally stumble in.
Search operations are ongoing, with the police using unmanned aircraft and underwater units to aid in recovery efforts. The challenging currents and terrain of Niagara Falls, particularly around Luna Island, pose significant difficulties for search and recovery operations.
Social media posts poured in, paying tribute to the mother. Niesha Eukeya highlighted that we often don’t comprehend the battles others are fighting and extended her condolences to the victim’s aunt.
Mich Molina, another social media user, admitted her difficulty in penning a full post or sharing memories due to feeling physically unwell and emotionally overwhelmed. She stressed the profound love she and her children had for Chianti and her children.
The cover photo on Ms. Means’ Facebook profile conveyed a heartfelt message about her son, stating that giving him life had, in turn, given her a reason to live.