Co-Workers Mourn, Remember Fox Detroit Meteorologist Who Took Her Life

Jessica Starr, a Fox 2 Detroit meteorologist, died at the age of 35, and according to reports on Dec. 12. (Jessica Starr/Twitter selife)

Staff at Fox 2 News in Detroit are mourning the loss of meteorologist Jessica Starr, who died at the age of 35, reportedly by suicide.

The station confirmed her death on Dec. 12.

“Last night we were informed of the heartbreaking news that our friend and colleague, meteorologist Jessica Starr took her life. All of us here at FOX 2 are in deep shock and cannot believe that such a wonderful, bright and intelligent individual will no longer be with us. Her family and friends will be in our thoughts and prayers in the coming days as we all deal with our grief,” it said.

The Detroit Free-Press reported that Starr, a mother of two children, apparently was suffering from pain following Lasik eye surgery. She wrote about dealing with dry eye and other issues while recovering from the procedure. “Yesterday was a struggle for me. I really wanted to come back but I need more time to recover. Please keep me in your thoughts during this challenging time,” she wrote on Twitter on Nov. 14., her last tweet.

Co-workers mourned her loss Dec. 12, describing her on social media as a “smart, hilarious, bubbly and beautiful” woman. Another described Starr as a “wonderful, bright and intelligent individual.”

“Our hearts are broken. Last night we were informed our Jessica Starr took her life. Her Fox 2 family is deep shock and cannot believe such a wonderful, bright and intelligent woman is gone. Keep her family in your prayers in the coming days as we all deal with our grief,” said Fox 2 anchor Amy Andrews.

Starr underwent Lasik surgery in October, according to the Free-Press. On Nov. 13, she posted a video on Facebook announcing she had returned back to work.

“I am struggling a little bit,'' she said. ”So I do still need all the prayers and the well wishes because this is a hard go.”

Jessica, a native of Michigan born in Southfield and raised in Commerce Township, received two meteorology degrees from Michigan State University and Mississippi State University, according to the station.

Eye Surgery Issues

The New York Times in 2008 reported that some patients have suffered a great deal of pain following their Lasik procedure—to the point of going on disability or being driven to suicide. “For the last two years I have suffered debilitating and unremitting eye pain,” said one person in the Times report. “Patients do not want to continue to exist as helpless victims with no voice.” Some people testified at an FDA meeting that same year about apparent eye surgery-triggered pain that has led to disability, isolation, depression, and suicidal tendencies.

In late November, a Canadian self-made millionaire took his own life after he reportedly suffered from debilitating pain caused by laser eye surgery. A CTV report said he suffered from a complication called corneal neuralgia, which can cause nerve damage to the eye and can cause severe pain. His family confirmed he got laser eye surgery called photorefractive keratectomy back in 1996 when he was 32, but the procedure is different than the now-popular Lasik eye surgery.

Suicide Hotlines

In the United States, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255. Young people can call the Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868.

In Canada, the line is 1-833-456-4566.

In Australia, the crisis support service hotline is 13 11 14 (Lifeline).

Other worldwide suicide hotlines can be found at www.befrienders.org.