Danielle Orna, 17, died suddenly Thursday though details of the teen’s death have not been released by Essex County Police. Orna was the President of the Gay-Straight Alliance at Nutley High School in Nutley, N.J.
Police were unable to revive the teen when they arrived at 11 p.m. on report of an “unresponsive female,” the Nutley Sun reports.
“Police and medical personnel attempted to revive 17-year-old Danielle Orna, who was pronounced dead at Clara Maas Hospital earlier this morning,” police stated in a press release.
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office did not elaborate on the teen’s death, stating only that it was “sudden.”
The school issued a statement on Orna’s death:
Tragically, one of our Nutley High School students passed away unexpectedly earlier this morning. All of our thoughts and sympathies are with the family. Counselors were made available both Thursday and Friday to assist students throughout the district. As well, the Traumatic Loss Coalition of Essex County has been actively assisting the district. We are acting as one community, supporting everyone through this difficult time.
A Facebook page was started in her memory, gaining over 1,400 likes within 24 hours of her passing. In regard to potential bullying, one Facebook commenter explained, “[It’s] just what kids are talking about in the town….that she was bullied. If true that is sad and it has to stop. This story touched my heart. So sad that she must have been in pain.”
Although police have not yet confirmed Orna’s death as a suicide, a friend posted the following statement on a Tumblr blog posted in Danielle’s memory:
You see this beautiful girl? She was one of my best friends. Her name was Danielle Orna. She was only 17. She was bisexual. She was tiny, about 4’10” or so. Doesn’t she look so happy? She committed suicide on November 16th, 2011, and was pronounced dead on 11/17/11. Her death was completely and utterly unexpected. No one knew that she was going to commit suicide.
She added: “If you know that someone is harming themselves or is hurting inside, please tell someone. If I did, this whole situation would have never happened.”
This info is inaccurate, it wasn’t a suicide. I was the one who was quoted from Tumblr. I was misinformed with the confusion of things. I have since removed the post.