On October 29, 2024, the New York State Police announced on its website that it was investigating the deaths of Chianti Means and her two young children. The family had been in Niagara Falls, New York, at the time of the incident.
The day before the State Police's post, authorities responded to a report involving an incident on or near Goat Island around 9:00 p.m. The New York State Park Police and Bureau of Criminal Investigation also arrived on the scene.
Investigators determined that Chianti, 33, a resident of Niagara Falls, New York, and her two children, Roman Rossman, 9, and Mecca Means, 5 months old, went over the safety rail on Luna Island, falling into Niagara Falls.
Reports state that Chianti allegedly threw her children over before jumping after them. According to the State Police, "The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation."
Both State Police and Park Police conducted search and rescue efforts, but they did not recover the trio. The New York State Park Police Unmanned Aircraft Systems, NYSPP Marine Patrol, NYSP Aviation, Underwater Recovery Unit, Niagara Falls Police Department, and Niagara Charter Schools are collaborating on the investigation.
Bierra Hamilton, Chianti's cousin, disclosed that the mother of two had been suffering from postpartum depression. She addressed online speculation surrounding Chianti's death, emphasizing that her cousin had not ended her life due to a breakup or "a man."
Bierra clarified that the parent had been "fighting depression alone," adding, "Understand this — postpartum [depression] is very real and needs a cure." Mourning Chianti, she expressed, "My cousin had a beautiful soul."