The heartbroken parents of a teenage cheerleader who committed suicide just weeks after a spectacular appearance on “America’s Got Talent” spoke out Sunday, saying their beloved daughter’s death has left a “hole the size of the universe” in their hearts left behind.
Emily Gold, a 17-year-old from California, jumped to her death from an overpass in Rancho Cucamonga on Friday evening in what the San Bernardino Coroner’s office has said was a suicide, according to the American magazine.
Two days later her parents went to Instagram to announce her death – and share their unfathomable grief with the world.
“Dear friends. It is with immeasurable sadness that we must tell you all that we lost our beautiful Emily on September 13th,” grieving parents Steven and Brandy Gold wrote in the Sunday post.
“Our hearts currently have a hole the size of the universe,” they continued. “The outpouring of love and support we receive shows us how many lives that angel touched and lifted, and it is what will get us through the most difficult time of our lives.”
“Thank you all so much for your love and support.”
Emily’s brother, Alex, also signed the message – and left his own sad note in the comments section.
“I love you sister, I’m going to do it all for you, I’ll always look for you in the sky,” he wrote, ending the post with a pair of yellow hearts.
Emily’s death came just a month after her Los Osos High School dance troupe performed during the quarterfinals of NBC’s reality show “America’s Got Talent.”
Gold and her teammates wowed the judges, including Simon Cowell, the notoriously strict celebrity who gave them a rare standing ovation after their audition performance in May.
“It was absolutely brilliant,” Cowell, 64, said at the time. “What I liked about this first and foremost was the energy. I think what I just saw is everything a great school should do, which is encourage talent and friendship.”
The energetic group was eliminated during the quarter-finals of the show in August.
Cowell, however, remained impressed.
“I don’t know anything about dance,” he said. “For me, though, that was an event.”
The teen dancer seemed grateful despite the elimination — writing in one of her final Instagram posts that performing on the show was “the most incredible experience.” according to Pennlive.
Friday evening, the California Highway Patrol received a call reporting a teenager wandering through traffic in Rancho Cucamonga, near Los Angeles.
But the police were too late, The American Sun reports this.
By the time they arrived, Emily’s body was under the overpass.
Authorities believe she was hit at least once, but the driver was nowhere to be found, the newspaper said.
The Los Osos High School Varsity Dance Team issued a statement Monday mourning the passing of their “beautiful, kind and loving” captain, according to US Weekly.
“Emily has always embodied every aspect of our team’s core values through her strength, dedication, kindness, compassion and the most humble heart,” the team wrote.
“She will be remembered as a leader, role model, friend and sister to her teammates.”
“Our dear sweet Emily – We love you endlessly and miss you more than words can ever express,” they said. “Everything we do is for you, our beautiful angel.”
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline on 988 or SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
