Woman’s death at Ohio stadium being investigated as suicide

COLUMBUS, Ohio − Officials are investigating Sunday’s graduation ceremony death at the Ohio State University football stadium as a suicide, coroner’s office documents show.

On Tuesday, the university announced the woman who fell to her death from stadium stands had been identified as Larissa Brady, a family member of a graduate participating in Sunday’s ceremony.

Preliminary reports from the Franklin County Coroner’s Office said Brady’s death is being investigated as an “apparent suicide,” The Columbus Dispatch, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported.

Brady, 53, lived north of Atlanta with her husband and son, and her daughter was a graduating senior at OSU, according to the school’s commencement program.

What does the coroner report say?

Brady spoke to her daughter as she entered the stadium for commencement, according to the coroner’s report.

Brady then went into the stadium with her husband and son, 12, to sit and watch the ceremony, the coroner’s report said. Once seated, Brady told her family she wanted to move higher into the stadium and her family told investigators they lost sight of her.

After making her way to the last row of benches, witnesses saw Brady climb over the stadium’s concrete wall, according to the coroner’s office.

On Sunday, photos from the scene showed police and yellow tape near gate 30 at Ohio Stadium.

What did Ohio State University say?

Officials from Ohio State University said Tuesday that campus police, who were responsible for investigating the incident, did not suspect foul play and do not think Brady’s death was accidental.

“Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates,” university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said in a statement Tuesday. “Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time.”

Following the death, the university contacted all graduates and staff who volunteered at graduation and offered counseling services, Johnson told the Dispatch.

University officials and commencement speakers – including social entrepreneur and OSU alum Chris Pan – made no reference to the death during the ceremony, which continued uninterrupted, the Dispatch reported.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis and needs help, call or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Max Filby reports for The Columbus Dispatch. Claire Thornton reports for USA TODAY.