Former Cavalier softball player Kylee Mader has died, confirmed by Carl Heinrich, assistant dean, Athletics, and Dennis Day, vice president, Student Success and Engagement. The cause and time of death have not been confirmed.
Mader signed her first letter of intent to play for the college Jan. 26, 2010 and her second July 20, 2011, according to her roster webpage.
Friends of Mader are sharing their feelings on Twitter using the hashtag #KJM, Mader’s intials. According to some of the tweets, Mader died by suicide.
One tweet by Emily Yoder (@3mily_yod3r) reads: “Was hoping to wake up and it just be a dream RIP #KJM”
Interim softball head coach Aubree Brattin and assistant coach Samantha Fleeman could not immediately be reached for comment. The Ledger has reached out to several additional sources, all of whom were unavailable.
Day said besides sharing condolences with Mader’s family, the college does not intend to issue a public statement.
Updates will follow when The Ledger receives more information.
Compiled by Mackenzie Clark, mclark68@jccc.edu
Update, Friday, June 29, 5:46 p.m.: Gardner Police public information officer Ilena Spalding said that the department cannot release any information pertaining to Mader’s death and the investigation is ongoing.
Update, Monday, July 2, 8:05 p.m.: According to a posting through the college’s InfoList at 12:54 p.m., the softball team and Athletics department have planned a candlelight vigil in Mader’s memory for 9 p.m. tomorrow, on the softball field at the southwest corner of campus.