This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is at risk, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
STANFORD, Calif. (KNX) — In the wake of her death in a Stanford University residence hall, the parents of Women's Soccer Captain Katie Meyer have confirmed that their daughter took her own life, and they believe stress and fear over disciplinary action played a role in her decision.
In an interview shared by the TODAY Show Thursday, Steve and Gina Meyer confirmed that their 22-year-old daughter, who was set to graduate this Spring, died by suicide.
The Southern California native was found dead in her dorm room on Tuesday, according to a statement from the university.
"It is with great sadness that we report that Katie Meyer, a senior majoring in International Relations and minoring in History," university officials wrote.
"Katie was extraordinarily committed to everything and everyone in her world. Her friends describe her as a larger-than-life team player in all her pursuits...There are no words to express the emptiness that we feel at this moment."
Speaking to NBC News' Stephanie Gosk, Meyer's parents said their last conversation with her was just hours before she died.
"She was excited...she had a lot on her plate, she had a lot going on. But she was happy, she was in great spirits," Gina Meyer said, with Steve Meyer adding, "she was the usual, jovial Katie" the last time they heard her voice.
Meyer's parents said they ultimately believe pending disciplinary action from the school could have led Meyer to take her own life, following her defense of a teammate several months ago.
"Katie being Katie, was defending a teammate on campus over an incident," Steve Meyer said, with his wife adding that for several months, their daughter had been getting letters from the university about the incident and had just gotten another that they still have yet to see.
"This is the only thing that we can come up with that triggered something," Meyer's mother said.
Regardless of what was in the letter, Meyer's parents told NBC News that they believe her decision was a combination of school and sports that may have been too much pressure for her to handle.
"We just, we're struggling right now...to know, you know, what happened and why it happened...we're just heartbroken, we're so heartbroken," Gina Meyer said.
When asked by the TODAY Show about the pending disciplinary action that Meyer's parents mentioned, Stanford University officials said they were devastated by the death, but "could not share information about confidential student disciplinary matters."
REMEMBERING KATIE
Across the sports world, athletes and organizations are repeating Meyer's name, even donning Stanford Soccer shirts and wristbands with her initials and jersey number.
Just Women's Sports, ESPN, ESPN Women and the NCAA are among several organizations that have shared sentiments about the young soccer player's death. Many of their words have been retweeted by Stanford Women's Soccer, in honor of the teammate and friend they are grieving.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
For more information about mental health care resources and support, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-6264 or email info@nami.org.
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