A woman has spoken about the continual online abuse she has suffered following the tragic death of her first husband who passed away in the Nutty Putty cave in Utah in 2009.
The incident has been described by media outlets as "the worst death imaginable," yet it seems that public sympathy for his wife Emily Jones Sanchez has been overshadowed by relentless internet trolling.
For those who may not remember, John's calamitous adventure began when he went exploring the Nutty Putty cave with his brother. The expedition took a fatal twist when he entered an extremely narrow passageway, known as the "Birth Canal of the cave," measuring just 10 inches wide and 18 inches high.
Despite valiant rescue efforts, John was stuck for a harrowing 25 hours and ultimately lost his life. The cave has since been sealed and transformed into a memorial to honor his memory.
What's truly shocking is the aftermath. Emily, who was pregnant at the time of John's death, has been plagued by cyberbullying and hurtful remarks, mostly centered around how "quickly" she moved on with her life.
She remarried three years later and welcomed a child with her second husband, Donovan Sanchez. Critics have weaponized Emily’s faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, claiming she should have waited for an afterlife reunion with her late husband.
Emily saw a storm of derogatory comments hurled her way when she shared a picture of herself with Donovan on Facebook. One troll commented: "I'm sure John wanted her to move 3 YEARS AFTER HIS TRAGIC DEATH," while another chimed in: "She moved on pretty quick I'd say, married again after just 3 years?"
Yet another stated, "Clearly she has moved on, no mention of John anywhere or any f***s given."
However, in a candid interview with Deseret News, Emily emphasized her ongoing efforts to honor John's memory while also moving forward. "It's never been hard to talk about John," she stated, adding that Donovan has been incredibly understanding and supportive.
"Ever since I first met Donovan, he's been really comfortable with John continuing to be a part of our family and our lives, especially because of our kids," Emily affirmed.
She further praised Donovan for his efforts to maintain a sense of unity and connection with John’s family, thereby offering a more nuanced perspective on the complexity of grief and remembrance.
As Emily's story continues to resonate, it serves as a chilling reminder of the dark underbelly of the internet, even in situations as tragic as this one. The public conversation now pivots towards the cruel irony that while John may have suffered what has been dubbed as "the worst death imaginable," Emily appears to be trapped in this never-ending ordeal.