Melinda Coleman, the mother of Daisy Coleman, one of the stars in the 2016 Netflix documentary, “Audrie and Daisy”, has committed suicide – four months after her daughter’s death in August. The bereaved mother, who also lost a son in a car accident in 2018, took her own life on Sunday, December 6. Her death was announced on the Instagram account of SafeBAE, her daughter’s organization created for the prevention of sexual assault.
Daisy was allegedly sexually assaulted at the age of 14 when she sneaked out of her home to attend a party. She claimed that Matthew Barnett sexually assaulted her while another boy recorded the act. After the alleged sexual assault, Barnett left Daisy in only a T-shirt on a front porch, freezing. During the subsequent trial, Barnett stated that they had had consensual sex. He pleaded guilty to child endangerment and was sentenced to two years of probation.
Melinda who was 58 years old before her death was the one who announced her daughter’s death in August. The bereaved mother also appeared in a 2016 documentary, explaining that Daisy had killed herself because she was unable to completely recover from the alleged rape incident. The incident allegedly occurred in Maryville, Missouri, on January 8, 2012. Daisy died at 23.
“It is quite shocking and saddening to announce to the SafeBAE family that Melinda Coleman committed suicide,” SafeBAE wrote on Instagram.
Melinda Coleman had previously lost one of her sons, Tristan Coleman, to an auto crash two years before Daisy ended her life in August. Melinda’s husband also died in an auto crash when Daisy was younger. SafeBAE stated in the post that the three deaths were too heavy for Melinda to bear, and she spent her last moments in despair, KSHB reports.
The documentary talks about the backlash that Daisy and the Coleman family faced in the wake of the harassment allegation in the small town. After the documentary, the actress became a supporter of people who had been sexually assaulted. She opened SafeBAE shortly after and became a prominent advocate against sexual assault.
“Melinda, before her death was a prominent member of our family, a talented veterinarian, committed wife and mother, and a skilled bodybuilder,” SafeBAE added in the post. “She loved and supported her children and gave them her all.”
Melinda leaves behind two sons, Logan and Charlie, whom the organization recognized in the post.
National Sexual Assault can be reached on the hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or at rainn.org, in the incidence of sexual assault against you or someone you know. People contemplating suicide are also urged to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or suicidepreventionlifeline.org. The organization can also be reached via text message by texting “STRENGTH” to 741-741.
Source: yahoo.com
