Daisy Coleman, the activist and sexual assault survivor who was the subject of the 2016 Netflix documentary “Audrie & Daisy,” has died at age 23.
Daisy’s mother, Melinda Coleman, revealed her daughter’s deathTuesday onFacebook, where she also sharedtributes from friends.
SafeBAE, an organization for sexual assault survivors co-founded by Daisy Coleman,atattoo artist and model, confirmed the news in a statement sent to USA TODAY by Shael Norris, the group’s executive director.
“As all of our supporters know, Daisy has fought for many years to both heal from her assault and prevent future sexual violence among teens,” a statement says. “She was our sister in this work and much of the driving force behind it.
“We are shattered and shocked by her passing from suicide. ...She had many coping demons and had been facing and overcoming them all, but as many of you know, healing is not a straight path or any easy one.”
Melinda Coleman wrote onFacebookthat she called police to check on her daughter, who was found dead in Denver.
“She was my best friend and amazing daughter. I think she had to makeit seem like I could live without her. I can’t,” she wrote. “I wish I could have taken the pain from her! She never recovered from what those boys did to her and it’s just not fair. My baby girl is gone.”
In “Audrie & Daisy,” Coleman spoke of being a survivor after experiencing sexual assault at 14. The other subject of the movie, Audrie Pott, committed suicide after nude photos taken of her after an assault went viral when she was 15.
Whenlocal law enforcement emphasized to filmmakers the safety of the small town where Coleman was allegedly assaulted, “I really had to sit back and laugh,”shetold USA TODAY in a 2016 interview.
She saidshe enjoyed tattooing images with dark themes onher clients. “It almost forces my audience to look for the light and the good in the darkness,” Coleman said.
Norris told USA TODAY that Colemanappeared to be doing well untilabout two years ago, when shelost her brother in a car accident.
After that, Coleman started EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, a treatment used on PTSD patients,to help deal with her trauma. Over time, says Norris, the therapy appeared to be so effective that it wasgoing to be featured inanother documentary in production about Coleman called “Saving Daisy.”
SafeBAE’s statement says Coleman “fought longer and harder than we will ever know,” and emphasizes that Coleman worked to help young survivors.
“Please know that above ALL ELSE, she did this work for you.She loved talking to young people about changing the culture and taking care of one another.Much of her healing came from each of you.”
“Her work was truly inspirational,” Norris added.
Read more at usatoday.com
