Latest news with #KatieMeyer
Daily Mail
10-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Stanford's shocking response to tragic suicide of soccer star Katie Meyer piles more 'hurt' on mourning family
The family of Katie Meyer - a Stanford soccer star who committed suicide in 2022 - have detailed their renewed 'hurt' over the school's response to her tragic death, which appears to point the finger in the direction of her parents. Meyer, a captain and goalkeeper for the Cardinal, took her own life in March 2022 - hours after discovering that she could be expelled for spilling hot coffee on a Stanford football player. 'I miss her every second of every day,' her father Steven says in a new ESPN documentary, 'Save: The Katie Meyer Story', which sheds light on her life and her heartbreaking death. It features poignant interviews with Meyer's family and explores the fallout from her suicide. Meyer's parents are suing Stanford in a wrongful death lawsuit, accusing the California school of 'systematic failures' and dealing with her disciplinary case 'negligently and recklessly'. Towards the end of her fifth and final year, the goalkeeper was charged by the university over the coffee spill. Meyer said it was an accident. The football player - who had been accused of making 'an unwanted sexual advance' on one of Meyer's teammates - said otherwise. But, as the documentary explains, the football star did not make a formal complaint and insisted he 'did not want any punishment that impacts (Meyer's) life'. But the school nevertheless investigated Meyer over six months and on the evening of February 28, 2022, the 22-year-old was told her degree was being put on hold and she could be kicked out of school. That night, Meyer began 'frantically searching' online about how to defend herself at trial. The following morning she was found dead in her dorm. According to the family complaint, Meyer had been meeting with sports psychologists and was 'experiencing increased depression symptoms associated with perceived failure and endorsed suicidal ideations'. She also told the school that she had been 'stressed out for months' revealing: '(I am) terrified that an accident will destroy my future.' But court filings show that, in one of their defenses in the lawsuit, Stanford pointed out that - shortly before her death - 'Katie chose to make her final oral presentation about her years before Stanford and growing up with controlling parents and pressure to succeed.' That twisted the knife for a family already in mourning. 'It hurts my heart... that they're marching down this road when we've lost our daughter,' Meyer's father says. 'I don't quite know what they're getting at here, to be honest.' Stanford also argued that 'any reasonable person would consider Katie's suicide a highly unusual, extraordinary response to the situation', adding: 'The Stanford defendants did not know and had no reason to expect that Katie would act in this manner.' But the Meyer's lawyer insists: 'There is no denying they knew that their process could cause distress (and) harm.' She claimed that Stanford had long been 'on notice' after previous, 'serious concern' about the school's disciplinary and judicial processes. The family had no idea about their daughter's fight with school officials and her mother Gina told ESPN: 'It just breaks my heart that we didn't know. It breaks my heart. It will always be broken...' Meyer had spoken to her family around 5pm on February 28, which was the final day she could be charged by the school. She was excited about spring break and, according to her mother, 'it was very normal, normal, wonderful conversation.' 'She seemed great,' he dad says. The next day, however, Steven Meyer received a call. 'She's gone,' he was told. He speculated that she must have had in an accident. 'It didn't seem possible with her that it would be suicide,' he tells ESPN. He then rang his wife, 'wailing'. 'It was the worst phone call in your life you could ever imagine. It's every parents' nightmare,' Gina says. But when looked inside Katie's dorm room, there was no evidence of 'darkness'. 'Nothing,' her dad says. 'Just like it always was. Just like it was on the FaceTime the night before. Nothing at all.' Gina says: 'Never in a million years would this kid take her own life. We were like "How? Why? What happened?" Katie left a note in which she confessed to being 'so, so scared' but her parents' confusion lingered until they looked at her laptop and found the five-page charging letter. 'I felt like it was a process of picking up the breadcrumbs along the way to find out what happened, and how this happened, and how did we not know,' Gina tells ESPN. The family later set up a foundation, Katie's Save, to 'fight for systemic changes at colleges and universities to promote mental health, protect students and prevent suicide.' They then worked with politicians to create a new law that means any student going through disciplinary processes is allowed an advisor to support them. California governor Gavin Newsom signed Katie Meyer's Law in September 2024 but, as a private university, Stanford is not required to adopt it. The lawsuit is set to go to trial in 2026. 'Katie's death was a tragedy' a Stanford official said in a statement to USA Today. 'It was heartbreaking for her family, for everyone who knew her, and for our entire community. Though we continue to respond to the litigation brought by the family, that fact does not diminish our deep sympathy for her loss and our continuing support for everyone impacted in our community.' The Daily Mail has contacted Stanford for comment. 'Save – The Katie Meyer Story' will air at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN Saturday and stream afterward on ESPN+
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN documentary offers insight on life, death of former Stanford goalie Katie Meyer
ESPN documentary offers insight on life, death of former Stanford goalie Katie Meyer Show Caption Hide Caption How "Katie's Save" creates a crisis line for struggling college students Stanford athlete Katie Meyer died by suicide in early 2022. Her parents have started "Katie's Save," a program to create a crisis line for students. Josh Peter and Hank Farr, USA TODAY A new ESPN documentary about Katie Meyer, the former Stanford soccer goalie who died by suicide in 2022, brings chilling video to the surface. 'Save – The Katie Meyer Story'' will air at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN Saturday and stream afterward on ESPN+. Directed by Jennifer Karson-Strauss, the film deftly weaves interviews, video and a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Meyer's parents against Stanford. In 2022, she was found dead in her dorm room the day after learning she faced possible expulsion for accidentally or intentionally spilling hot coffee on a Stanford football player. The film opens with footage of Meyer, then captain of the soccer team, sitting next to her father, Steve. It was February 2022, and he had driven to Stanford from the family's home in Southern California. Katie Meyer had invited him to be the guest on the first episode of her podcast. 'What do you think a lesson is that a person just has to learn on their own?'' Katie Meyer asks on the podcast, "Be The Mentality." 'Life is not easy, right?'' her father replies. '… After some type of failure, whether it's in sports or in schoolwork or your career, then if you just keep grinding and remain open-minded, it may actually be an opportunity to do something else.'' Meyer died two weeks later. She was 22. Her parents say they were unaware of the disciplinary matter and, if they had been, that their daughter would be alive today. Dee Mostofi, Stanford's assistant vice president for external communications, told USA TODAY Sports the school has not seen ESPN's documentary so could not comment on it. "Katie's death was a tragedy,'' Mostofi said. "It was heartbreaking for her family, for everyone who knew her, and for our entire community. Though we continue to respond to the litigation brought by the family, that fact does not diminish our deep sympathy for her loss and our continuing support for everyone impacted in our community." The film captures Meyer's charisma, sheds light on her life and death and delves into her parents' civil lawsuit, which is set to go to trial in April 2026. The podcast episode was the only one recorded by Meyer. The lawsuit filed by Meyer's parents against Stanford Her parents fault Stanford in their lawsuit. Filed Nov. 23, 2022, with the Santa Clara Superior Court of California, it alleges the disciplinary matter against Meyer was conducted "negligently and recklessly.'' Stanford points to Meyer's parents. Six days before Meyer was found dead, according to a Stanford legal filing, she rehearsed in front of teachers an oral presentation she would make to the class about her family relationships before she came to Stanford. 'The notes taken of what Katie said reveal Katie's struggles with her parents and their control and pressure to be perfect,'' according to Stanford's answer to the Meyers' amended complaint filed with the court July 28, 2023. The podcast offers a snapshot of Meyer's relationship with her parents. At one point, Meyer recalls being a sophomore in high school when she was cut from the U.S. national team for players 17-and-under not long before the team competed in the World Cup. 'I was so ashamed and terrified because my entire identity was being that soccer player,'' she says. Responds her father about Meyer's return home after being cut, 'For you, your mom's still making you pancakes in the morning. I'm still giving you bad dad jokes. It is OK, because you don't want to let that necessarily at that age, at any age really, it's difficult to not let something like that define.'' Later, Meyer recalls not being good enough to play as a freshman at Stanford. Responds her father, 'I actually thought it was a blessing in disguise,'' adding he thought it gave her time to get acclimated. The following year, Meyer's clutch play helped propel Stanford to the national championship. On the podcast, she recalls running across the field to celebrate with her father. 'And mom,'' Steve Meyer says. 'And mom,'' Katie Meyer says. 'Mom was there, too.'' As the podcast wrapped up, Meyer checked her laptop screen to see who had posted questions and comments. Her mom had checked in, and Meyer read the words aloud. 'Hi, my loves.'' Ex-Stanford star serves as film's reporter Julie Foudy, a former Stanford soccer star, serves as the reporter and the face of ESPN in the documentary. 'I am very vociferous about my connection to Stanford and always have been,' Foudy, who played there from 1989 to 1991 and graduated from the university in 1993, told USA TODAY Sports this week. 'Love my time there.'' Her connection to Stanford is not disclosed in the documentary. When asked by USA TODAY Sports whether doing so was discussed, Foudy replied, 'We didn't talk about it.'' Andy Hall, a director of communications with ESPN, told USA TODAY Sports, 'there was a discussion but she wasn't involved in it'' and ESPN decided Foudy's ties to Stanford 'did not make a difference in her being the reporter on the story.'' In the documentary, Foudy asks tough but fair questions of Stanford. The school declined to have representatives appear on camera and responded to questions in writing, according to Foudy. Meyer's parents were interviewed extensively on camera. 'I get why they didn't want to get on camera, and I knew that was probably going to be difficult,'' Foudy said of Stanford. 'But yeah, I also knew it was a story that I think was important to tell. And as hard as it was, it's a story that definitely people needed to hear.'' Accusations of deceit The film documents the Meyers' efforts to push for the passage of AB 1575, Katie Meyer's Law. The law requires public California colleges and universities to allow students to have an adviser when facing an alleged violation of a student code of conduct. The bill passed unanimously in the California State Assembly, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it into law. Because Stanford is a private school, it does not have to adhere to the law. But a recent motion filed by the Meyers' legal team states Katie Meyer had discussed the disciplinary matter with Jennifer Zimbroff, then deputy general counsel for the school's office of general counsel and a resident fellow in the dorm where Katie Meyer was a resident advisor. The motion, which includes text messages the plaintiffs say were exchanged between Meyer and Zimbroff, states, 'The documented pattern of Ms. Zimbroff's unethical conduct with Katie demonstrates that her dominant purpose was not providing legal advice to Stanford but rather acting as Katie's attorney" (on an unrelated matter) "and extracting information from her as an informant. The text messages reveal a calculated strategy of deceit spanning for months leading up to Katie's death.'' The Meyers want communications exchanged between Meyer and Zimbroff they say the school is withholding, according to the motion. Stanford's Mostofi told USA TODAY Sports there is no merit to the assertions made regarding Ms. Zimbroff. Mostofi said Zimbroff never acted as an attorney for Katie Meyer and as a resident fellow "cared deeply for Katie and was very supportive of her.'' "When Ms. Zimbroff learned that Katie was involved in an incident that might lead to a disciplinary proceeding, she informed colleagues in the legal office that she would not be involved in any legal counsel in those proceedings and would continue to support Katie in her resident fellow capacity,'' Mostofi added. "We believe the mischaracterizations made by the plaintiffs in the latest filing regarding Ms. Zimbroff are false and reckless and we continue to believe that there is no merit to these claims.'' The matter is scheduled to be ruled on later this year, as are other issues before the trial begins. If you or someone you know may be struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call 988 any time day or night, or chat online. Crisis Text Line also provides free, 24/7, confidential support via text message to people in crisis when they dial 741741.
CBS News
22-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Runners say the Boston Marathon is a "once in a lifetime experience"
Around 32,000 people ran the Boston Marathon on Monday, but the race is much more than just miles. It's about the people and why they are running. At the end of the 26.2-mile journey, there are hugs, selfies, wobbling, and tears of joy. "This by far is my favorite marathon. Nothing compares to Boston," says 69-year-old Nancy Smith from Virginia. She knows the course better than most. "It's very special to me. It's my 25 consecutive Boston Marathon and also my 10th year running on Dana-Farber, so I have the best of both worlds." Nancy received her medal from Bonnie Yezukevich, who has spent the last ten years volunteering at the marathon. "People just share a moment with you. Sometimes they want a hug and sometimes they want a high five, but they are always real excited and they always thank us, and they don't have to thank us; we would be here anyway. We love it," Yezukevich said. Katie Meyer from Cambridge said that Monday's weather was perfect for running her 12th Boston Marathon. "But every year it's amazing! Just really happy I'm from Boston," said Katie Meyer. "I feel so strong. That's crazy because I feel strong and my body feels so strong, so good. I am so happy and so excited," said Jeimey Vindel, who just finished her first marathon. Her mother was beaming with pride at the challenge her daughter completed. "It was amazing. You have all the feelings in your heart," Ana Vindel. Jackson Murray is a junior at Boston College and said running his first marathon was "unbelievable." "It's a once in a life time feeling," Murray said. "When I turned onto the Newton hills, I got a rush through my body that I'd never felt before in my life, and then that happened again at BC." While for some runners this may be their first Boston Marathon, it won't be their last marathon of the week. "I feel tired. I feel excited and happy. When I crossed the finish line, I was crying very serious tears of joy because there's that time cut off, and I made it by 5:25, so I did it," Pilar Arthur Snead explained. Snead just wrapped up her first Boston Marathon and will now head to complete the London Marathon this weekend. She is on a journey to complete all the major marathons. "You know what. Boston shows up for runners. I was so impressed with everybody out on the course," Snead said.
USA Today
16-04-2025
- USA Today
Lawsuit against Stanford over soccer player Katie Meyer's death gets trial date
Lawsuit against Stanford over soccer player Katie Meyer's death gets trial date Show Caption Hide Caption How "Katie's Save" creates a crisis line for struggling college students Stanford athlete Katie Meyer died by suicide in early 2022. Her parents have started "Katie's Save," a program to create a crisis line for students. Josh Peter and Hank Farr, USA TODAY If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline which provides confidential 24/7 support by dialing 9-8-8. A trial date has been set in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against Stanford by the parents of Katie Meyer, the soccer goalie who died by suicide March 1, 2022. The case is set to go to trial April 13, 2026, according to a document the Santa Clara County Superior Court of California posted online – almost 2½ years after the civil lawsuit was filed. Meyer helped lead Stanford to the NCAA championship in 2019. She was 22 at the time of her death, only months before she was set to graduate. The lawsuit was filed Nov. 23, 2022. The Meyers' accusations revolve around a formal disciplinary charge leveled against Meyer by Stanford. Her diploma was placed on hold three months before her scheduled graduation after Meyer either intentionally or accidentally spilled hot coffee on a Stanford football player. Meyer received a formal written notice charging her with a 'Violation of the Fundamental Standard by spilling coffee on another student," the night before her body was found in her dorm room, according to the lawsuit. Over the past two years, attorneys for Meyer's parents and Stanford have wrangled over an assortment of issues, including what evidence might reveal and what evidence still exists.
