Graduate’s mom plunged to death from stands during commencement
A woman who fell to her death from stadium stands during a university graduation ceremony has been identified as the mother of a students receiving a diploma.
Larissa Brady, 53, of Georgia, was named by the Franklin County Coroner’s Office as the person who plunged during Ohio State University’s commencement on Sunday afternoon.
Investigators ‘do not suspect foul play or an accidental fall’, said the university’s police department on Tuesday.
‘Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates,’ a spokesperson told The Independent.
‘Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time.’
Brady was pronounced dead at the scene after dropping 136 feet from Ohio Stadium shortly after 12.30pm as students arrived for the graduation, reported WBNS10.
An officer said in a police radio call, ‘I need medics and some officers at gate 30… had one fall off the stadium’, reported The Columbus Dispatch.
The ceremony continued uninterrupted after her death.
About 12,500 students were present at the time of the fatality and some appeared upset, reported the newspaper.
Speakers at the commencement did not bring up the incident. Social entrepreneur and an alum of the university, Chris Pan, sang the song, This Little Light of Mine.
It was unclear if Brady’s daughter was aware of her mom’s death until after she walked in her graduation.
The alum reportedly walked past the crime scene which as taped off after the ceremony.
Brady was identified using her fingerprints.
The campus is offering counseling to community members, university spokesperson Ben Johnson told the New York Post.
Brady’s death came as pro-Palestine protesters have staged demonstrations at college campuses across the US.
Ohio State’s senior vice president of student life, Melissa Shivers, had called for Sunday’s commencement to be ‘a day for focusing on and celebrating our graduates’, The Dispatch reported.
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