How did Kyle Van De Water die? Ex-congressional candidate found dead in cemetery
A former Republican congressional candidate has been found dead at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery on September 7. According to reports, Kyle Van De Water's body was found at the famous cemetery by police, with investigations into the incident ongoing. De Water made headlines for his attempt in 2020 to unseat Rep. Antonio Delgado and very recently decided to end a second attempt during the 2022 midterms.
The sudden and shocking death of De Water comes amidst a large number of suicides in 2021. On September 2, former wrestler Daffney Unger died by suicide after reading an alleged suicide note on Instagram. Days before, Lancaster County Coroner's Office ruled the death of child actor Matthew Mindler as suicide, after his body was found near the Millersville University campus. In May, celebrated chef Anthony Bourdain died by suicide in a French hotel.
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The exact nature of De Water's death has not yet been confirmed, with police yet to issue a statement on the matter. A veteran of the US Army, De Water served with the Judge Advocate General’s Corps in Afghanistan, before working as an attorney out of the army. Details are scarce at the moment, but here's what we know.
How did Kyle Van De Water die?
So far, the only information we know is that his death is being investigated as a suicide. De Water's body was found by the Poughkeepsie police at the cemetery late on September 7. The police have not yet made an official statement or responded to requests from local media outlets. Mid Hudson News reported, "Town of Poughkeepsie Police responded to a report of a “man down” at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Police located the man later identified Van De Water."
It is unclear what would have prompted De Water to take his own life, and it is unclear at the moment if it is related to the Afghanistan crisis, or his decision to end his second attempt for Congress. Since the Taliban takeover, numerous Afghan war veterans have slammed Biden, and called the death of their colleagues "in vain". There have been reports of suicides of veterans in the UK, as a result of the chaotic withdrawal.
On July 13, De Water announced plans to run for Congress a second time. He challenged Delgado in the 2020 elections but lost with only 44.2% of the vote. Undeterred, it appears he was gearing up for a second attempt but chose to abruptly end it on August 28. "Unfortunately, circumstances in my life have changed and I am no longer able to give 110% towards this endeavor," he said in a Facebook post that day. "I look forward to vigorously and enthusiastically supporting the GOP candidate in 2022," he added.
It's unclear what circumstances changed for De Water, or if they in any way played a role in his death. Until the Poughkeepsie Police issue a formal statement, we can only guess. Delgado was one of the many to pay tribute to the veteran. In a statement, he said, "My heart breaks for Kyle, and his beautiful family... Kyle’s death is tragically felt not only on an individual level but also nationally, as far too many veterans across our country are going without the support and care that their service to our great land undoubtedly necessitates."
In case you or a veteran you know is contemplating suicide and needs helps, you can call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255. Alternatively, you can call the 4/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.