Cheslie Kryst Cause of Death: Father Alludes Miss USA May Have Been Depressed Over Family Dysfunction

The father of Cheslie Kryst, the former Miss USA who died by suicide by jumping off a Manhattan building, has alluded that his daughter could be dealing with depression over a family dysfunction.

Rodney Kryst, 62, spoke in his first interview with the New York Post and said that Cheslie was never into substance abuse. She was the kind of person who did not like taking prescription medications or drugs.

Cheslie's father and mother, April Simpkins, divorced when the beauty queen was a young girl. The ex-couple has six kids together, but Rodney said Cheslie was sad about the family dysfunction. The dad said that he couldn't elaborate more on this matter for now, adding it could be a while before he could open up again.

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Mom Says Cheslie Was Her Best Friend

CBS anchor Gayle King, also Cheslie's friend, wrote a tribute to the former beauty queen on Oprah Daily. She said that she could not believe Cheslie would jump off a building.

King also said she had no clue that her friend was struggling deep inside because she was the epitome of strength. The CBS anchor spoke with Cheslie's mom, who has been shattered by the news of her death.

Simpkins described her daughter as her best friend, and King said it was the same thing Cheslie told her months before her death; her mother was her best friend. For her Mother's Day tribute in 2020, the beauty queen shared on social media that she only wanted one person with her during the 2019 Miss USA Pagent -- her mom. The suicide note on her computer indicated that everything she owned must be given to Simpkins.

Meanwhile, Cheslie also posted a tribute for Rodney for Father's Day in 2020. She said that Rodney, a former bodybuilder, introduced her to athletics. She shared that as a child, her father would take her and her siblings to the track and field every weekend to work out.

After speaking with Simpkins, King said that she still has many questions about what happened to Cheslie. The CBS anchor closed her piece with advice to the readers to check on their strong friends.

Grandfather Also Stunned by the Loss

Gary Simpkins, Cheslie's grandfather, could not believe that she was gone. Gary described his granddaughter as "'fantastic, kind, and generous." He said he would remember her infectious laugh and her empathy for people. The grandfather said Cheslie was a rare breed because she "had a heart for people."

The beauty queen's family released a statement confirming her death, stating that her impact on her work will live on. Her co-workers on the entertainment program "Extra" also announced her passing and consoled with the family.

Cheslie's body was recovered at the snow-covered sidewalk on 42nd Street in Manhattan. She lived on the ninth floor of The Orion. The New York Police Department said that preliminary investigations indicate no criminality to her death, but nothing has been ruled out.

For anyone in distress, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is open 24/7 via 1-800-273-8255 or online at SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.

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