News Anchor Neena Pacholke Dies By Suicide | She Sent Chilling Message To Fiance Weeks Before They Were Set to Marry

Trigger warning: This article contains themes of suicide that some readers may find distressing

Neena Pacholke a television news anchor for ABC television affiliate WAOW in Wausau, has died by suicide. She was 27 years old. A post on the station's website read: 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. Neena came to News 9 in 2017 after graduating from the University of South Florida.  She started as a reporter, but because of her warmth and dedication quickly moved into a main anchor role. She spent several years as our morning anchor where so many people welcomed her into their home.

Pacholke had just celebrated five years at the station and was set to be married in October. She reportedly sent a chilling text to her fiance before dying by suicide, reported News.au. “I love you Kyle. I always have and always will,” she texted him, according to a police report obtained. “Despite how much you ruined me, I always had hope. I’m so sorry to do this to you but I can’t handle any of this pain anymore.” There have also been reports that the couple had a tumultuous relationship with the couple calling off their wedding. 

Neena Pacholke's parents are opening up about their daughter after her death revealing that behind the anchor's infectious smile was a history of heartbreaks and pain. She lost her high school boyfriend Jordan to brain cancer when they were just 18 years old. "The first love of her life, as high school sweethearts. She held his hand as he took his last breath. And I think that's where a lot of it started. That's an extremely traumatic event," Laurie said. Over the years her daughter had mental health struggles. "She was getting treatment. I'll put it out there — she had been to the crisis center a couple of times. She had so many people here to talk to. She talked to people, but she didn't want anybody to know how she was hurting, so she didn't talk until it got so bad," Laurie said.

Neena's sister Kaitlynn Pacholke said you can never really know what another person is going through. “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 told the Tampa Bay Times. “She was loved by everybody. She was so good at her job.” She remembered her sibling fondly saying that “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.”

If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is, please contact The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)

References:

https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/news-presenters-chilling-texts-before-she-took-her-own-life-are-revealed/news-story/c4e194c8e654b2cbf57e9b4915617476https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bulls/2022/08/29/former-usf-freedom-high-womens-basketball-player-neena-pacholke-dies-at-27/

https://www.waow.com/news/remembering-neena/neena-pacholkes-parents-fighting-against-mental-health-stigmas-after-daughters-death/

Cover Image Source: Facebook | Neena Pacholke