Emily Gold, a cheerleader at Los Osos High School in California who appeared on America’s Got Talent last month, was found dead by suicide on Friday, September 20.
She was 17 years old.
According to the San Bernardino Coroner’s Office, Gould’s body was found under a bridge on eastbound Highway 210 in Rancho Cucamonga.
Therefore, authorities are confident that the teenager committed suicide.
Along with other members of the Los Osos High School dance team, Gold impressed judges on America’s Got Talent a few weeks ago.
After succeeding in the auditions, the group made it to the quarter-finals of the programme, before they were eliminated in August.
“It was absolutely brilliant,” panelist Simon Cowell said of the performance at the time. “What I loved most about the performance was the energy. I think what I saw was everything a great school should be doing, fostering talent and friendship.”
The selectman judge said:
“It reminded me of the movie High School Musical and I thought every kid should go to a school like that.”
A GoFundMe campaign is up and running in Gould’s honor and has raised nearly half of its $50,000 goal, and funds donated will be sent to Emily’s grieving family.
“Let it be known that she is now at peace, although there were many who loved and respected Emily Gould,” a friend of Gould’s wrote on Facebook.
“She will be missed by her fellow Grizzlies and the people who loved her with all their heart and soul. Emily Gould, thank you for everything you’ve done in this world. You’ve done more than I’ve ever done. Emily, paws up for you. Paws up.”
On Aug. 13, Gold spoke to People magazine about her journey as a reality star.
“When I’m performing, I really think about all the improvisations because we get improvisations up until five minutes before we go onstage,” she told this outlet.
“So really thinking about all of those so we can implement them is my biggest priority on stage.”
We offer our condolences to the friends, family members, and loved ones of Emily Gould.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 … or visit 988lifeline.org.