Pennsylvania news anchor Emily Matson's death has been ruled as suicide by the Erie County Coroner's Office, leaving her colleagues and the Erie community in shock and mourning.
Per The New York Post, Matson, a 42-year-old news anchor for Erie News Now, died when she was struck by a train in Fairview, Pennsylvania, on Monday.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook made the announcement, stating that the evidence pointing to suicide was unequivocal.
While the details surrounding her passing remain heartbreaking, the Erie News Now news anchor's death was confirmed by the outlet's parent company, Lilly Broadcasting. In a statement, the company expressed their profound sorrow and remembered Matson as a dedicated professional who illuminated their newsroom.
"It is with a very heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of our beloved Erie News Now news anchor Emily Matson," the statement read. They praised her commitment to delivering news with fervor and her deep affection for the Erie community and Northwest Pennsylvania.
"We loved Emily dearly, and our hearts go out to the Matson family and her husband Ryan at this time," the statement concluded.
Emily Matson's journey in journalism began when she joined NBC affiliate WICU-TV in 2004, shortly after graduating from La Roche University in Pittsburgh with a bachelor's degree in communications and media technology. Starting as a producer for a morning show, she quickly transitioned into a general assignment reporter role.
Over the years, Matson became an integral part of the Erie News Now team, dedicating 19 years of her life to journalism. She co-anchored the 7PM news desk with John Stehlin and later the 11PM desk alongside Mike Ruzzi, showcasing her versatility and commitment to her craft.
Colleagues and friends alike remember Matson as an exceedingly positive and encouraging presence in the newsroom. Paul Wagner, a retired reporter at Erie News Now, fondly recalled her upbeat nature, noting that she always had a joke to share and never hesitated to support newcomers.
The news of her tragic passing sent shockwaves through the journalism community, with Erie News Now reporter Jamison Hixenbaugh describing it as "utterly devastating." He expressed the difficulty of finding words to convey the profound loss of Emily Matson.
Former colleague and WVLT-TV anchor Christyn Allen, who had worked alongside Matson at Erie News Now, penned a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, remembering her as "the brightest light" in their shared journalistic journey.
Emily Matson's legacy will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of those who knew her, and her dedication to journalism and the Erie community will be remembered for years to come.
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