Coach Speaks Out After 17-Year-Old “America’s Got Talent” Cheerleader Dies
Emily Gold, a Los Osos High School dance captain, is being remembered by her coach, Rachel Muego, following her tragic death on Friday (September 13).
Emily Gold, 17, passed away Friday of suicide just weeks after her last America’s Got Talent appearance. Gold competed on the show with the Los Osos High School dance team who advanced to the quarterfinals before being eliminated.
According to a spokesman for the California Highway Patrol, Gold was found deceased after allegedly jumping off of an overpass.
“When the officers arrived, they located a female, 17-year-old, who was struck by at least one other vehicle in the carpool lane on eastbound 210,” the spokesman said. “The female did succumb to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
The dance team issued a statement confirming Gold’s death and remembered her as “a leader, role model, friend, and sister to her teammates.”
The statement concluded, “Our sweet sweet Emily. We love you endlessly and miss you more than word can ever express. Everything we do is for you, our beautiful Angel.”
Emily Gold’s coach, Rachel Muego, who appeared on America’s Got Talent with the team, posted a beautiful tribute to her late protege on social media.
Muego wrote the message to Emily, saying that she put her “heart and soul into everything” and “never stopped believing in us.”
She went on to thank Emily for her hard work and being an outstanding captain.
“All I keep hearing in my head is your voice, seeing your beautiful smile, hearing your laugh and all of the positive words you’d bring to us daily. You lit up all of our lives and I know you’re going to keep doing just that, shining for us and being that peace and hope that we all need. Em I miss you so much and from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU,” Muego wrote.
The statement accompanied a series of photos of Emily, a screenshot of a text the teen sent her, and some clips of Emily dancing to Blake McGrath’s “Let You Love Me.”
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We extend our deepest condolences to all of Emily Gold’s loved ones.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
