Community Rallies around Local Family After Teenager Dies in Eastford
EASTFORD — A 15-year-old teenager from East Hampton has passed away after drowning in Crystal Pond in Eastford on Sunday, July 12, after experiencing a medical emergency while she was paddleboarding.
According to information provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Connecticut Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police responded to Crystal Pond in Eastford on Sunday, July 12, at 12:15 p.m., in response to a report of a person missing from a paddleboard.
Witnesses reported that the victim appeared to have a medical emergency and fell into the water. The victim, who was later identified as Cassandra Munson, was recovered by a good Samaritan who came out onto the pond to assist. The victim received treatment onshore and was transported to Day Kimball Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. The incident is under investigation by EnCon Police.
In the days following the incident, Cassandra’s aunt, Lisa Richards, established a GoFundMe to help pay for “funeral, memorial, and other expenses associated with honoring Cassandra and supporting her immediate family.”
“As anyone can understand, our hearts are completely shattered, and our lives will never be the same,” Richards wrote on the GoFundMe page. “No parent should ever have to bury their child. As our family tries to process this devastating loss, my sister is facing the overwhelming burden of planning Cassie’s funeral while also trying to be present for her younger daughter, Morgan, who is only 11 years old and is also grieving the loss of her mentor and older sister.”
CT DEEP extended its sympathies to the victim’s family and friends, and reported that no further information will be released at this time. For the family, the road ahead will be filled with struggle.
“The journey through grief is long,” Richards wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Your generosity will provide them with stability and support as they begin to rebuild their lives one day at a time. If you are able to give, no amount is too small. If you are unable to donate, we ask that you please share this page, keep our family in your thoughts and prayers, and continue sharing memories of our little girl. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, compassion, and generosity during the most difficult time our family has faced. We will forever cherish the memories of Cassandra’s life. She was deeply loved; she always loved deeply in return, and there will be a void in our hearts that will never heal.”
As of press time, the GoFundMe had accumulated more than 750 donations totaling nearly $61,000, with the total still rising. For more information on the GoFundMe or to support the family, click here.
