Netflix star Daisy Coleman remembered at funeral of 200 following suicide after rape and stalker ordeal
RAPE survivor Daisy Coleman was remembered at a packed funeral on Thursday as friends and family said their final goodbyes to the brave 23-year-old.
Around 200 mourners paid tribute to the tattooist, who took her own life last month after struggling with depression due to a stalker and her teen rape ordeal, at a ceremony in Albany, Missouri.
The Sun can share photographs from the day at Roberson-Polley Chapel, which show large framed images of the striking model and artist, along with bouquets of white roses and daisies.
Daisy’s family initially planned to organize a large gathering at the high school’s football stadium, but were forced to move to a funeral home due to bad weather.
Regardless of the venue change, they described the day as “beautiful” but “crushing,” with mourners joining her heartbroken mom Melinda, brothers Charlie and Logan, best friend Ella Fairon and family friend Tami Piburn.
Ella’s dog Rouge also dressed up in a tiny black and white pinstripe suit with a pink flower around his neck for the ceremony, which was captured by her best friend.
Tami, who organized a GoFundMe for the ceremony, pulling in almost $30,000 from supporters around the world, told The Sun: “It was beautiful and soul crushing at the same time.
“But Daisy was such an amazing human that even after death she is still making a huge impact on people and bringing people together.
“Charlie, Ella and the pastor spoke at the funeral. Ella was amazing, and Charlie did so well on the day, but it hurt my soul to see him cry.
“Mindy is still shattered by what has happened. To lose your husband and then bury two of your children is hideous.”
Ella also told The Sun: “It was what Daisy would have wanted, but yes very painful.”
She added: It did bring closure and I felt I was able to really say goodbye to her.”
Daisy’s father, Dr Michael Coleman, died in a car accident, with Daisy and one of her brothers in the vehicle, in 2009.
Her youngest brother Tristan, 19, later died in a separate one-car crash in western Kansas in 2018.
Daisy featured in the 2016 Netflix show, Audrie & Daisy, about a number of high school rapes.
While no one was convicted in her case, Matthew Barnett pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child after he supplied her with alcohol and left her in “sub-freezing” temperatures outside her house.
An additional charge against another boy who allegedly filmed a sexual encounter between Daisy and Barnett was also later dropped.
Melinda says a number of other factors may have contributed to Daisy taking her own life, including a stalker, not being able to see her regular psychiatrist, and grieving for her dad and brother.
Lakewood Police in Colorado, where Daisy had been living alone, are investigating after Daisy filed a harassment report on Monday, August 3 – the day she died.
A spokesman told The Sun this week there have been no arrests and the case remains an open investigation.
Melinda also told The Sun: “She just found out weeks before that she couldn’t have children. She was very upset about that.”
Her mom says before her death she was still focused on releasing music, filming for her follow-up documentary, Saving Daisy, and tattooing at a local parlour.
Ella shared photographs from the funeral on Instagram yesterday, writing: “Today I had to say goodbye to my best friend.
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“I don’t know what hurts more the shock of losing you or thinking of what could have been.
She added: There better be sushi dates in heaven. I will miss you forever nugget @youngcattatoos #staystrongsweetheart.”