The Franklin County Coroner’s Office has officially identified the woman who tragically died at the Ohio State University 2024 Spring Commencement Ceremony,
Larissa Brady, 53, of Georgia, was pronounced dead at the scene outside Ohio Stadium by Columbus firefighters at 12:25 p.m. Saturday, according to the coroner’s office. His identity was confirmed by fingerprinting.
While the original coroner’s report did not indicate how Brady died, Ohio State Police said they do not suspect foul play or an accidental fall, university spokesman Ben Johnson said in an email Tuesday.
Despite the incident, Ohio State University has remained tight-lipped about the details surrounding Brady’s death. After the tragedy, the university reached out to both alumni and staff volunteers to provide counseling at the graduation, Johnson told The Dispatch.
There was no mention of the incident during the ceremony itself, which included speakers such as social worker and OSU alumnus Chris Pan. But as the students left the stadium after the ceremony, they crossed the field where Brady fell, still marked by the red stripes of the crime scene.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are taking place on college campuses in the United States, and students are mobilizing in unprecedented numbers to denounce their institutions’ ties to the Israeli regime and advocate for Palestinian rights.
The protests led to tensions and violence on campuses, with authorities at several universities cracking down on protesting students and police intervening to disperse protesters.
Where did the incident occur?
A portion of Ohio Stadium, close to gate 30 typically used by Ohio State football players, was cordoned off by police on Sunday. This area, usually bustling during home games, became the backdrop for a tragic incident during the graduation ceremony.
“No way, that’s unbelievable,” exclaimed one witness.
This observer, who chose to remain anonymous, recounted the heartbreaking moment when someone fell just as the last graduates were entering the stadium.
Another eyewitness, present at the ceremony, noticed visible distress among attendees and students as news of the tragedy spread through various media outlets and social platforms.
Pan touched on various topics, including world peace and Bitcoin, and even sang the song ‘This Little Light of Mine.’
