Summary based on the NamUs case record (can2024063739) and
1 other sourceIn the late evening of October 28, 2024, a heart-wrenching event unfolded in Niagara Falls, New York, involving five-month-old Mecca Means, her nine-year-old brother, Roman Rossman, and their 33-year-old mother, Chianti Means. The three were last seen at approximately 9:00 p.m. in the area of Luna Island, a small piece of land situated between the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls.
Reports indicate that Chianti Means, a resident of Niagara Falls, crossed over a safety railing with her two children and went into the waters of Niagara Falls.
Authorities, including the New York State Park Police and the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, promptly responded to the scene on Goat Island. The ensuing investigation quickly led officials to believe that the incident was intentional in nature, though the specific circumstances leading to this conclusion remain under investigation. Extensive search and rescue operations were launched, utilizing resources such as unmanned aircraft systems and underwater recovery units, but these efforts concluded without finding the three individuals. As a result of the tragic event and the unsuccessful recovery efforts, all three are presumed deceased.
The case has cast a somber shadow, leaving a community to grapple with the devastating loss of two young children and their mother. In the wake of the incident, information emerged suggesting that Chianti Means may have been struggling with postpartum depression. Additionally, social media posts made by Means in the weeks leading up to the tragedy have been described as haunting, revealing her personal struggles. The investigation into this deeply sorrowful event remains ongoing as officials continue to piece together the circumstances that led to that fateful night at Niagara Falls.Last Seen: Oct 28, 2024
