Mother Falls to Her Death at Ohio State Graduation: Everything We Know

A 53-year-old Georgia mother died after falling from the stands at the graduation ceremony for Ohio State University on Sunday.

Larissa Brady, who had a daughter in the 2024 graduating class, fell as the final graduates walked into the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, the Associated Press reported.

"Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates," university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said in a statement to Newsweek. "Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time."

Johnson said police do not suspect foul play or an accidental fall.

"Counseling is available for those in our community who need support," Johnson said.

Newsweek reached out to the Columbus Police Department and the Franklin County Coroner's Office for more details about the death.

The graduation ceremony continued uninterrupted, but some people at the graduation were visibly upset, the AP reported.

"We knew something was happening but the university kept it going," one user who attended the graduation wrote on X.

As people left the graduation, some encountered crime scene tape, police and first responders, according to WCMH.

The stadium known as "The Shoe" is one of the most recognizable landmarks in college sports with a seating capacity of 102,780 and standing 136 feet tall.

Over 30,000 people were estimated to be in attendance, WDTN reported.

The ceremony also made news for the commencement speaker's admission that he was high on psychedelics while writing his speech, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Entrepreneur Chris Pan's ayahuasca-fueled speech featured two musical numbers, including "This Little Light of Mine" by Harry Dixon Loes. He also defended Bitcoin, which was not well-received by the crowd.

The graduation ceremony capped off an eventful few weeks at the university.

Earlier in the semester, students at Ohio State staged pro-Palestinian protests. Over three dozen students and demonstrators are facing misdemeanor charges related to the protest, CBS News reported.