Jessica Starr, Fox 2 meteorologist, commits suicide at age 35
A married mother of two and meteorologist for Fox 2 Detroit died by suicide, the station said Thursday.
Jessica Starr, 35, who lived in Novi, Michigan, is survived by her husband, Dan, and her two children, a 5-year-old son named Noah, and a 3-year-old daughter named Riley, the Springfield News-Sun reported. The station did not provide more details about her death.
Morning anchor Amy Andrews first shared news of the tragedy on Twitter.
“Our hearts are broken,” she wrote. “Last night we were informed our Jessica Starr took her life.
“Her Fox 2 family is deep shock and cannot believe such a wonderful, bright and intelligent woman is gone.
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Keep her family in your prayers in the coming days as we all deal with our grief.”
Co-worker Roop Raj also spoke out about Starr’s death.
“It is with a heavy heart that I post this,” Raj tweeted.
“Our dear friend and colleague Jessica Starr has died. She leaves behind a husband, two beautiful children and a loving family. I send my deepest sympathies to her family. Our hometown girl will always be remembered fondly.”
Prior to her death, Starr spoke out publicly about her recovery from Lasik surgery, which she had done in October. She was out of work for several weeks and struggled with dry eye following the procedure, reported the Detroit Free Press.
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Starr posted a video on her Facebook page on Nov. 13 explaining her absence. She announced that she was back at work but still in the recovery process and dealing with blurry vision.
“I’m still healing because I wore contact lenses for 23 years and I also had a really high script so the vision is getting there, ” she said, adding that she was happy to be back in the office.
Her final tweet, posted one day later, explained that she needed more time off to recover.
“Yesterday was a struggle for me. I really wanted to come back but need more time to recover. Please keep me in your thoughts during this challenging time,” reads the tweet.
Before the birth of Riley in 2015, Starr addressed viewers about a hurtful letter she received from someone shaming her over her baby weight.
“We’re in the public eye, and you have to have a thick skin to be in the media. That’s just part of it, and I’m okay with that. You can not like the hair today; we’re used to that. You can not like the makeup, the outfit, that’s fine. Doesn’t bother me,” she said, according to the station.
“But, I got a hand-written letter saying that it looks like I’m about to deliver an elephant, and, ‘Isn’t it about time you start your [maternity] leave?’ And I just think that’s crossing the line.”
Starr was originally from Southfield, Michigan. She received two degrees in meteorology, one from Michigan State University and another from Mississippi State University.
Via New York Post
My view: That's so sad, maybe the Lasik surgery allegedly triggered depression and suicidal thoughts, in some cases the side effects of Lasik surgery can be deadly. It's terrible, I feel for her kids.