A mom shared a heartbreaking final message before she tragically died at her daughter’s graduation.
A 53-year-old mother tragically plunged to her death from a height of 136ft at Ohio State University on May 5 of this year.
Larissa Brady from Woodstock, Georgia fell at the Ohio Stadium near the Bell Tower.
Now, her final heart-wrenching words have left the internet devastated.
One commenter pens: “It’s terrible what happened. I hope her family is alright.”
A second adds: “Her daughter was graduating, too. Learning that your mother died during an important personal event has to be even more devastating.”
“So sad… I hope if anyone is hurting in need of help reach out to family and friends, someone does care,” writes a third.
Emergency services were called to Ohio State University around 12:30pm after reports of someone falling from the stadium.
Ben Johnson, a spokesperson for the University, said at the time of the incident: “An individual fell from the stands. They are deceased.
“We have no additional details to share at this time. Police and emergency responders are on the scene. For anyone affected by today’s incident, we will make counseling and other support resources available.”
The commencement program from the day shows that Brady’s daughter was graduating with a bachelor’s degree that day.
The Columbus Dispatch obtained the investigative report by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office, which revealed that the mother had told her family she wanted to find some seats higher up in the stadium.
After that, her husband and son lost sight of her.
The mother had a reported history of mental health issues including bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and anxiety, according to an autopsy report obtained by People.
Eye witness reports from the day of the incident said that Brady went over to the last row of benches in section C30 and climbed over the stadium’s concrete wall.
Autopsy reports state that Brady died as a result of multiple blunt-force injuries after falling.
At the time, the coroner’s office said that Brady’s death was being investigated as an apparent suicide and that foul play was not suspected.
Months later, investigators officially ruled her death a suicide, per the New York Post.
The ceremony, where over 12,000 students were in attendance, continued without interruption and speakers did not mention the incident.
Ohio State University released a statement following her death, saying they were ‘grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates,’ per the Independent.
“Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time,” said OSU spokesperson Ben Johnson.
Many of those in attendance at the ceremony were not aware that Brady had died, and only realized that there had been an incident when walking past the scene of the tragedy, which was still cordoned off with yellow police tape, after the service had finished.
Brady had reportedly said her last final words to her graduating daughter as they entered the stadium, before going into the stands with her husband and 12-year-old son to watch the ceremony.
According to the summary report, as her daughter had entered the stadium, Brady told her daughter ‘that she loved her and would always be her mother.’
It is unknown whether Brady’s daughter knew that her mother had passed away before getting her diploma.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National S**cide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S.A. at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
In the U.K., the Samaritans are available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans.org, or heading to the website to find your nearest branch.
