If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help and contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
Wisconsin news anchor, Neena Pacholke, has sadly died at the age of 27.
Pacholke died on Saturday in an apparent suicide, her sister, Kaitlynn, told the Tampa Bay Times.
"Neena Pacholke, our beloved morning anchor passed away suddenly Saturday," news network 9WAOW said in a statement on Sunday (August 28).
"The entire team here at News 9 are absolutely devastated by the loss as we know so many others are as well. Neena loved this community and the people who lived here. She was a kind person with a big heart and a contagious smile and we will miss her greatly," the statement continued.
Florida-born Pacholke, who was a star basketball athlete at the University of South Florida, was engaged to be married at the time of her death.
The Police Department in Wausau, Wisconsin, is currently investigating Pacholke's death, with Captain Ben Graham telling E! News: "Wausau Police Department Officers were dispatched to a home on Wausau's southeast side Saturday morning to check the welfare of a woman who reportedly made suicidal statements.
"After receiving no answer at the door, officers entered the home and found Pacholke deceased."
No foul play has been suspected, and the police department has not yet confirmed a cause of death.
In a heartbreaking Instagram post, Pacholke's sister, Kaitlynn, paid tribute to the talented anchor with a series of images of the pair - captioning the post: "I love you and miss you so much baby sis. My life will never ever ever be the same without you [red heart emoji]."
The last image was a screenshot of a message she had written about her late sister, where she wrote her "heart is shattered into a million pieces and I know it will never be whole again."
Kaitlynn also spoke to the Tampa Bay Times about her sister, saying: "My sister was by far the happiest person I thought I knew [...] Sometimes you just don't know what people are going through, no matter how much you think you know someone... My sister had access to every resource you could imagine. She was loved by everybody. She was so good at her job."
"She just radiated love and positivity, and she just cared so much about pouring into other people, and always put other people first [...] I think she did that at the expense of not caring about herself," Kaitlynn added.
Pacholke's former basketball team at the University of South Florida paid tribute to the late athlete, tweeting: "The Bulls are heartbroken to learn of the sudden loss of our beloved former teammate Neena Pacholke (2013-16). Our thoughts and prayers are with Neena and her family during this extremely difficult time."
Up North News Wisconsin also tweeted about Pacholke, writing: "Over the weekend, Wisconsin news anchor Neena Pacholke died by suicide. She didn't 'look' like someone who was struggling. That's the point AND the problem. Keep Neena's family in your prayers. And save the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number in your phone. It's a simple 9-8-8."
Our thoughts are with Neena Pacholke's family, friends, colleagues, and fans at this time.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out for help and contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
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