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Overview Sarah Rae Grossman was born on October 7, 1997 in Springboro, Ohio. Sarah Grossman had attended a ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in downtown Columbus on May 28, 2020 where she was exposed to pepper spray and tear gas used by the police. Two days later on May 30, 2020, Grossman was taken to Sycamore Hospital after being found unresponsive, foaming around the mouth, and suffering from cardiac arrest, as reported in the preliminary autopsy. Although it was widely speculated that Grossman died from the use of the mix of tear gas and pepper spray exposure, her autopsy, done by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office, revealed that she died of natural causes. Her autopsy further disclosed that her cause of death was a coronary artery dissection caused by a genetic condition known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a rare disorder which affects the connective tissue of the skin, joints, and blood vessel walls.

Education

Sarah Grossman graduated on May 3, 2020 with an Honors Degree of Bachelor of Science in the School of Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University, as written in her obituary. Sarah's plans for post graduation included pursuing work in promoting indigenous communities. She aspired to help find a voice for the unheard. In doing so, she was doing what she loved by helping people but also being in nature. She was described as a very outdoorsy person, and very one with nature.

Impact

Sarah is missed but remembered by many including her parents, Todd and Christi Grossman, her sister, Jessa Grossman. She was described as having a “unique spirit, and unwavering dedication.” In the statement given by the family, they share the grief from the loss of their daughter by specifying how she died to avoid any speculation that it was caused by the protest. The family statement is as follows, “We are devastated by the sudden and tragic loss of our daughter Sarah Grossman. Due to media speculation regarding her death we felt it necessary to make a brief statement at this time. Sarah did attend a rally in Columbus on May 28, 2020, where she was exposed to pepper spray. Autopsy and toxicology reports are not complete and there is no evidence at this time that pepper spray caused her death. Although all reports are not final, we do know from preliminary toxicology reports that there was no evidence of any accidental or intentional drug overdose as was apparently reported and suspected by an emergency room nurse. Sarah had no known peanut allergy or asthma as speculated. Therefore at this time, the cause of her death remains unknown, and we will look to the medical examiner’s findings in determining cause of death.”

References

- Salo, Jackie. “Protester Hit with Tear Gas by Police Died of Natural Causes, Autopsy Reveals.” New York Post, New York Post, 12 July 2020, https://nypost.com/2020/07/12/protester-who-died-after-being-exposed-to-tear-gas-succumbed-to-natural-causes-autopsy-reveals/.

- Haeberle, Bennett. “Autopsy: Woman Who Died after Attending Columbus Protest Died from Natural Causes.” 10tv.Com, WBNS, 11 June 2020, https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/sarah-grossman-died-from-natural-causes-coroner/530-fc49977e-31cf-424a-a5b3-caf48a658495.

- “Sarah Grossman Obituary - Franklin, OH.” Dignity Memorial, https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/franklin-oh/sarah-grossman-9203495.

- Mitchell, Madeline. “Family of Columbus Protester Who Died: There Is 'No Evidence' That Pepper Spray Caused Her Death.” The Enquirer, Cincinnati Enquirer, 9 June 2020, https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/06/09/family-dead-columbus-protester-sarah-grossman-releases-statement/5330335002/.