Comments about ‘Recent BYU grad found dead in tree in Australia after nanny job ended’

This would be a strong topic for investigative reporting. We've lived in several countries as well as the East Coast where nannies have come. Our observation is most girls are totally unprepared and unrealistic about the rigors of life as a nanny, compounded by the fact that many of these "agencies" are sweatshops that do little to support the girls and in many cases exaggerate about the aspects of the work. We've found that many people who hire nannies treat them quite poorly and don't offer them equal treatment or lifestyle to their own children (a modern adaptation of "The Work").

We've also seen parents of nannies who thought they could solve their daughters problems by shipping them across the country or ocean. As if it were a sort of boot camp.

So sorry to hear about the passing of Sister Dieztl. My thought and prayers are with her family as they mourn their loss.

Simpathy to the family. What a tragedy.

Something smells fishy here. There has to be a rest of the story somewhere.

This is very sad. It's also strange that she didn't call her parents and get help to get back to the States. Why would she be living in a tree when she could have called the local LDS Bishop/Branch President and get help that way also. The suicide designation is just a little too easy. Maybe the family she was Nannying for didn't pay her and left her destitute. The father would be right at the top of my list as persons of interest in a homicide investigation. But then she's an American so why would the Aussies want to investigate a possible crime?

Yes, there is more to the story. First though, she wasn't homeless and she wasn't living in the tree.

I think I'll just quote what we put up on her Facebook because that will be simpler.

"We thought that maybe we should update here about our daughter's death so that the people she loved would understand a little better about what happened. We are heartbroken over this because we never expected this to happen to her. But we did know that there was a possibility that this could be the case.

A few weeks after Mima was working as a nanny in Australia, her employers, who thought she was fantastic, started getting very concerned about her and wanted her to have a psychiatric evaluation. She was hearing voices and behaving strangely. We spoke with him about this later and he said he didn't know a lot about mind conditions, but from what he had looked up, she seemed to be either schizophrenic or bipolar. Conditions like these often first manifest themselves in adolescence or early adulthood. In my wife's immediate family, there are six suicides by parent/sisters/children. Melissa's death was also a suicide--something we never ever expected from someone like her! So we're still reeling from the shock and the suddenness of it.

We love her so much. Thank you for loving her too."

[Later note] "I thought I might mention that our other son who committed suicide 2 1/2 years ago was also diagnosed as schizoaffective--a severe classification of bipolar disorder. And yes, these things are usually genetic."

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Melissa wasn't "shipped off" to go there. She had just graduated after going practically year-round through school. She was celebrating and going off to have an adventure before she settled down into a regular day-to-day job. She also had a return plane ticket home. And a zillion people who adored her and would have done anything for her. Why did she do it? The fact that it makes no sense at all is the only thing about this that makes sense when you understand the condition she was in. Bipolar disorder is such a heartbreaker.

Gosh, this made me sad to read about this young woman. I admire her for wanting to go that far away. And I wonder why someone didn't think to check on her meds. What a great loss. I felt like I knew her after I read the story. It's a tragedy that she was lost in the process. I would have liked to have known her. She's in a good place now.

@no fit in SG

Really? Really? You have zero to add to the conversation but these cynical remarks. You did not know the girl, you did not know the situation, and you did not know what help was given. Instead you just come out swinging hoping you'll land a punch. But to anyone with any sense of decency, you have only knocked out yourself.

Imagine if you had said, "What could I do to help?" or "That is a tragedy." How do you think this family would feel if they read your remarks? Show some decency and some kindness.

This is very sad and my heart goes out to the families involved. Just for the record, the Aussie Police investigate all crimes irrespective of nationality!!!!!!!!

@California Reader, so very sorry for your loss. She looked like a sweetheart. Such a sad, awful situation. My prayers are with you all.

What a terrible tradegy...so sad that things had to come to this. Jobs should be available in this country...no one should have hired her to come there without paying her fare back home.

California Reader, my condolences to you and your family on the loss of your daughter. What a tragedy compounded by distance and time. thank you for taking the time to update us on the information you posted to facebook. I'm wondering why the DN columnist, Tori Ackerman, did not contact you to include your input into her story.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Melissa's family. May they find consolation in knowing that she is now with her creator. I wish she could have helped her on this earth, but some conditions are not easy to spot or deal with, and God takes over.

RIP Melissa.

California Reader, your comments bring tears to my eyes. With all my heart, I am so sorry for the 2nd loss to this misunderstood disease. You shared some information that I don't know if everyone caught and that is that this sometimes doesn't show up until early adulthood. My step daughters brother in law was bi-polar schizophrenic, and it is common for a person to have both conditions. When she was getting married to his brother she asked him to not kill himself at that time. It wasn't if, it was when. This is a mental illness and you and society are not to blame for this. Your son and daughter no longer have blood flowing through their veins, so they no longer are dealing with this difficult mental illness, it is like a person with a physical disease, when they die, they no longer are dealing with the limitations from that. I have no doubt that your son and daughter are happy, they are free of this mental pain and suffering, their spirits are able to exist in a positive way. I also have no doubt that they would want you to know and feel their peace.

@ California Reader, Thank you for your honesty. My heart goes out to you.

Oh CaliforniaReader, so sorry for you and your family.

Have lately heard so much about those with schizophrenia, bi-polar and all the associated conditions in those spectrums.

May you have the peace you need as you go through this hard time.

From the mean spirited remarks by NoFitinStGeorge it is clear that your screen name is well chosen. Just exactly where would you fit?

I have to agree with Gosh-Duh. If Ms. Ackerman had gone the extra-mile and talked to the family, the article could have been helpful to the family and informative for others who may find a family member or friend has a mental condition. I think even more responsibility lies with the editor and publisher.

CaliforniaReader,

Thank you for your post. It just might help another. May God bless you and your family during this hard time with the loss of your daughter.