Who was Melinda Coleman? Netflix star Daisy Coleman's mom kills herself 4 months after daughter's Facetime suicide
Daisy Coleman who featured in the 2016 Netflix show 'Audrie & Daisy', died in August from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was struggling with depression due to a stalker and a teen rape ordeal. The 23-year-old lawyer was visited by police trained in crisis intervention and members of the fire department five hours before her death. After speaking to her for more than an hour, as per police, they felt a medical hold was not needed and left. Coleman never indicated she was suicidal or threatened suicide, according to an E! report.
Four months since her death her mother Melinda passed away Sunday evening, SafeBae -- a sex assault prevention group started by Daisy -- announced on Instagram. The post read: "We are in shock and disbelief to share with our SafeBae family, that we lost Melinda Coleman to suicide this evening. The bottomless grief of losing her son, Tristan and Daisy was more than she could face most days. Melinda was a gifted veterinarian, devoted mother and wife, and talented bodybuilder. More than anything, she loved and believed in her children. It is no accident that she created some of the most gifted, passionate, and resilient children. Our hearts are with Logan and Charlie. There are no words for our sadness, only that if you are struggling with trauma or depression, you are not alone," the post read.
Hours before taking her own life, Melinda posted a number of posts and pictures dedicated to her late daughter, on her Facebook page. "There aren’t enough I love yous I could have said when I was holding your cold, broken, dead body. I held you like a baby anyway, my baby. The baby I held when you first came into this world. It has always been my greatest honor and joy to be your mother and best friend. Mama bear!"
4 mos ago today my baby girl left this world with a broken heart and spirit. Out of hope and full of despair. She took...
Posted by Melinda Moeller Coleman on Saturday, 5 December 2020
She had also posted a "time capsule" letter which was written for Daisy by her father Michael. "We went to the hospital and found our "Daisy"... I was privileged to rock you to sleep every night for the first year of your life," the note read which concluded with a hope that Daisy finds success in her future. On Dec 5, Melinda also wrote down a long post on her page that reflected the sadness that engulfed her soul. "4 mos ago today my baby girl left this world with a broken heart and spirit. Out of hope and full of despair. She took all her pain and worked to help others. Many used her and stilll are stealing her pictures and quotes simply for their own gain. The narssicists and users have nothing to say so they steal her. The line became very blurred on some “friends”, others truly loved her. More than she could see in that terrible moment. All she could see was the continued harassment and cruelty and the damage sustained to her poor little body," she wrote.
Before finally succumbing, Daisy had attempted suicide four times in the past. After the Netflix documentary aired in 2016 wherein Daisy candidly spoke about her traumatic sexual assault, she began facing victim-blaming. She said it was very hard for her to stomach the fact that the Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White believed that she and her friend Paige – who was raped on the same night - were somehow as culpable as the boys. He also slipped a note to the camera that "teenage girls lie." Social media was filled with hashtags calling Daisy a "skank, whore, and liar." Coleman reportedly ended up carving the name of her alleged rapist into her skin, according to the Daily Mail.