Sebastian, Florida — A Florida community is mourning the death of a 16-year-old high school student who died after falling nearly 30 feet through a hole in the roof of an abandoned condominium building, just days before she was expected to return to school.
Roylynn Scott died following the accident at River Preserve, an abandoned condominium complex near the Indian River Lagoon, on the night of Saturday, Aug. 8.
Authorities said Indian River County Sheriff’s deputies and fire rescue personnel were called to the property after receiving a 911 report of a critically injured teenage girl.
Teen Fell Nearly 30 Feet to Floor Below
According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, responders arrived at 9846 Riverside Preserve Drive in Sebastian and discovered a group of juveniles along with the critically injured teen on the second floor of an abandoned four-story building.
Investigators determined that the group had been trespassing on the property and had gone onto the roof. Scott reportedly fell through a hole in the roof, dropping approximately 29 feet to the floor below.
The fall left the teenager critically injured. Emergency personnel performed CPR at the scene before Scott was transported by air to Holmes Regional Medical Center. Despite efforts to save her, Scott was eventually pronounced dead at the hospital.
Sheriff’s Office Says Fall Appears to Be an Accident
The circumstances surrounding Scott’s death remain under investigation.
Authorities said their criminal investigations detectives are actively reviewing the incident. However, officials emphasized that there is currently no indication that Scott’s fall was intentional or that another person caused it.
“At this time, all evidence indicates this was an accident.”
The statement comes as investigators continue examining what happened at the abandoned property and how the teenagers came to be on the roof.
Roylynn Scott Was Days Away From New School Year
Scott’s death was especially heartbreaking for her family and classmates because she was just two days away from the start of a new school year.
The 16-year-old was a student at Vero Beach High School, where classes were scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 10. Instead of welcoming students back to campus, the school community was soon forced to mourn the loss of one of its students.
A moment of silence was held during the school’s season-opening football game on Friday, Aug. 14, less than a week after Scott’s death.
School Community Honors Teen With Her Favorite Color
Students and members of the school community also honored Scott by wearing purple, her favorite color, during the football game at Billy Livings Field.
A photograph shared through a GoFundMe fundraiser created by Scott’s grandmother, Carole Melasi, showed the teenager with her hair dyed a vivid shade of violet.
Melasi described the loss as heartbreaking and said the family was struggling to cope while making arrangements to honor Scott.
“No family is ever prepared for this kind of pain,” Melasi wrote, describing the grief surrounding her granddaughter’s death and asking for support as the family prepared to lay her to rest.
Family Prepares to Say Goodbye
Scott’s loved ones are now preparing for a final farewell. According to her obituary, a service and celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 22.
The tragedy has left family members, classmates and the wider community grieving a teenager whose life ended suddenly while she was still looking ahead to a new school year.
While investigators continue examining the circumstances of the fall, authorities have so far described the incident as an accidental death connected to trespassing at the abandoned property.
For those who knew Scott, however, the investigation cannot change the devastating reality that a young life was lost only days before she was supposed to return to the classroom.
What message would you share with Scott’s family, classmates and loved ones during this heartbreaking time? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
