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.”
She recounted that the mother of two deeply loved her children and family, saying, “I never had a bad memory with her. [She was] so full of life and wisdom. She and her kids will be missed so much.” About a month before her death, Chianti’s social media posts appeared to hint at her struggles with mental health and a call for help.
On September 29, 2024, she posted on her “Diamond Scott” Facebook account, expressing, “I wish someone would love me because the man that’s suppose[d] to does not.” According to her profile, she had marked herself as married.
On October 1, Chianti shared two more unsettling posts, stating, “You have to hold on to the ones you love. Never know when you might lose them.” In a subsequent post, she wrote, “Everyone please leave me alone I’m in love with my daughter[‘s] father. I want my family back.”
She continued, “Respectfully [expletive] what I said about him before or what anyone else thinks.” Roman and Mecca appear to have different fathers; in a 2018 Facebook post, Roman was seen with his father, John Wayne Rossman.
A month after Chianti’s passing, the Niagara Tourism Facebook page shared photos of her and her two children. In a condolence post, it stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends, family and loved ones of Chianti Means, Roman Rossman, and Mecca Means who tragically lost their lives this week jumping over Niagara Falls.”
On her Facebook page, under the name used by authorities, Chianti once shared her struggles while expressing her love for her oldest and then-only child. A 2017 image she uploaded read, “I love my son! I gave him life… he gave me a reason to live.”
In November 2024, Roman’s father set up a GoFundMe page aiming to raise $20,000 to cover burial costs and preserve the family’s memory. He expressed a desire to create a memorial on Luna Island in honor of the trio.
The boy’s father also intended to use the funds for a memorial service on January 30, 2025, which would have marked his son’s tenth birthday. The money raised will also help cover funeral arrangements, including burial sites and headstones.
John shared that he has been visiting the island daily and plans to continue doing so until his son, with whom he shared a close bond, can rest peacefully. He and his family extended their gratitude to those who have offered prayers and kind words during this time of mourning.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
