Ciara Webb Suicide: Girl’s Death Leads Soccer Teammate To End Her Life In Kansas
A high school and community in Olathe, Kansas are trying to make sense out of the deaths of two teenage girls who were friends and teammates on the same soccer team. Ciara Web committed suicide on Friday and just two days later, Cady Housh was dead. Police believe the Olathe Northwest High School student also took her own life in the double-suicides in the tiny town.
Ciara Webb, 16, died at her home on November 7. The news, as one can imagine, is unsettling. By all accounts, the high school junior was admired by friends in the community, as evidenced by the messages on social media that followed her shocking death by suicide.
Then, on Sunday, Cady Housh, Webb’s distraught soccer teammate, stepped in front of an oncoming train in the town of Lenexa. The engineer said he saw the girl on the track, but there was nothing he could do to stop the train from impacting her. And while she was taken to a local hospital, she died a short time later from her injuries.
It was an honor to be your friend and your teammate. Thanks for all the memories. Rest in Paradise Sweetheart#ripCW pic.twitter.com/NxrqV8Ir0k
— Bailey Kleinschmit (@heyitsbaileyy_2) November 11, 2014
Cady I will miss you and pray for you, you were a sweet person and will be missed. #RipCH pic.twitter.com/c4VOw8bWFU
— Dean McCollum™ (@Dmccollum_) November 10, 2014
After Ciara Webb’s suicide, Housh took to Twitter and said it was the “worst f****ing weekend of [his] life.” Moments later, she, like Webb, took her life at her own hand. A message on Facebook reveals the turmoil she felt after learning of her friends tragedy. It also indicated how fond they were of one another.
“For almost 2 years we became close. I’m going to miss all the times we were both hurt but still cheering on the sidelines. I’m going to miss the times we walked together to our classes … will never be the same without you. Rest in peace baby girl.”
The suicides of the two girls two days apart shook up the school’s administration that was challenged with finding a way to deliver the shocking news that Ciara Webb and Cady Housh were dead, said a report from KCTV.
Webb’s brother posted a message to his sister’s Facebook page that said “Love you so much CiCi, wish I could find a time machine if anyone has one let me use it please. RIP little sister.”
Meanwhile, officials convened the student body on Monday and broke the sobering news to them about Webb’s passing. An hour later, they revealed the details of Housh’s tragic suicidal death. Grief counselors were on the scene to lend support but many parents checked their children out of the school, as the blanket of grief was too great.
Gwen Poss, the Olathe Northwest Principal, appealed to parents to establish a dialogue with their teens about suicide, while emphasizing that it is terminal and there’s no going back. If nothing else, Poss wanted students to realize that “suicide is a horrible decision and is not an option.”
“Please have a heartfelt conversation with your student about these tragedies and specifically about suicide. Have this conversation with your son or daughter tonight — you know them best. Ask them how they are feeling, be non-judgmental, and avoid any gossip related to details of the deaths or causes.”
Ciara Webb’s suicide is shocking enough for a small community. But to have them relive the anguish days later, this time about another student who shared a common bond with her, is an enormous undertaking. At this time, it’s unknown if police have a motive as to why Webb and Housch ended their lives.
[Image via News.com.au]
