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06th Aug 2020

Daisy Coleman from Netflix’s Audrie & Daisy has died, aged 23

Jade Hayden

“I wish I could have taken the pain from her.”

Sexual assault victim advocate Daisy Coleman has passed away, aged 23.

Coleman, who was one of the subjects of award-winning Netflix documentary Audrie & Daisy, was allegedly raped at a party when she was 14-years-old.

The film followed her case as it drew national attention. Following her accusation against 17-year-old Matthew Barnett, she was harassed online until the case was eventually dropped.

Coleman’s mother confirmed her daughter’s passing on social media this week.

“She was my best friend and amazing daughter,” Daisy’s mother, Melinda Coleman, wrote on Facebook.

“I think she had to make it seem like I could live without her. I can’t. I wish I could have taken the pain from her!

“She never recovered from what those boys did to her and it’s just not fair. My baby girl is gone.”

Barnett was originally charged with felony sexual assault before the case was dropped. He later pleaded guilty to child endangerment, claiming that the incident had been consensual.

Coleman appeared in the 2016 Netflix film alongside Audrie Pott, who died by suicide in 2012 some days after she was sexually assaulted.

Following her own experience, Coleman co-founded SafeBae (Before Anyone Else), a charity aiming to tackle sexual assault in schools in the US.

A statement from SafeBae said they were “shattered and shocked by her passing.”

“She had many coping demons and had been facing and overcoming them all, but as many of you know, healing is not a straight path or any easy one,” they said.

“She fought longer and harder than we will ever know.”

If you have been affected by any of the details of this story you can contact Samaritans on 116 123.

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