Tragic twist after mum jumps to her death from Niagara Falls with two young kids

Chianti Means, 33, jumped into Niagara Falls on Monday with her two children - Roman Rossman, nine, and five-month-old Mecca - with police so far failing to find their bodies

Hopes are fading the bodies of a mother who jumped off Niagara Falls and her two children this week will ever be found.

Chianti Means, 33, climbed over the safety rail at the New York waterfall with son Roman Rossman, nine, and five-month-old baby Mecca and leapt to their deaths. The tragic incident happened on Monday, however police are still searching for their bodies using unmanned aircraft.

Tourists reportedly watched in horror as Chianti, Mecca and her older child, fell to their deaths. After several days however, it is growing more and more unlikely the remains of the trio will ever be found.

Several thousand tons of water pass over the falls every second, with some bodies of jumpers found hundreds of miles away thanks to the sheer force of the waterfall. Emergency services responded to the park on Luna Island, a small island between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, at around 9pm on Monday.

A spokesperson for the police said : "On October 28, 2024, at approximately 9:00 PM., New York State Park Police and the New York State Police, Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to an incident on or around Goat Island in Niagara Falls, NY.

"Investigation determined three individuals, Chianti Means, 33-years-old, Roman Rossman, nine-years-old and Mecca Means, five-months-old all crossed over safety guild rail and went over Niagara Falls on Luna Island. The investigation has determined this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation.

"New York State Park Police and State Police search/rescue efforts were conducted with negative results. This incident deems no public threat to safety." A member of the New York State Police said in an interview with WKBW TV: "They went there and they never came out.

"So that's where we're at. [...] Like I said there's a lot of safety railings, a lot of security measures at the state park so it's not something where they just stumbled in."

According to the Falls' website, the group of three waterfalls never stop flowing due to its strong currents of the 3,160 tonnes of water that flow over the falls every second, even in freezing temperatures.

It was revealed on Thursday Ms Means previously shared a message on Facebook about how her kids were her "reason to live". In January 2017, she shared a picture, which read: "I love my son! I gave him life... he gave me a reason to live."

A close friend of Ms Means, who is thought to have been a domestic violence counsellor, said she is "sick to her stomach" over the tragic news.

Expressing her grief on Facebook , Mich Molina, a friend of the family, said: "I can't even bear to write a post about her and share memories. I am literally sick to my stomach and I can't even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children."

Another friend wrote in tribute: "You really never know what anybody is going through…" Writing online, another person said: "This case is so sad!! I wish she would have talked to someone... My heart and prayers go out to all her family and friend."