The mother and father of a teenage cheerleader who wowed audiences on America’s Got Talent have “a hole the size of the universe” in their hearts following her alleged suicide on Friday night.
Emily Gold, 17, was found dead under a bridge on the eastbound 210 Highway in California, just weeks after appearing with her high school group on the hit TV show.
Father Steven spoke of the family’s grief when he announced her passing in a heartbreaking post on Instagram.
“It is with immense sadness that we must tell you all that on September 13th we lost our beautiful Emily. There is a hole in our hearts as big as the universe right now,” he wrote.
“The outpouring of love and support we have received shows us how many lives that angel touched and lifted up. That will help us get through the most difficult time of our lives.”
Emily Gold was found dead Friday night on the eastbound 210 Highway in Rancho Cucamonga, weeks after competing on America’s Got Talent
Devastated friends of the talented dancer have taken to social media to express their praise.
Millions of viewers watched her compete on the Los Osos High School dance team, which reached the quarterfinals of the reality TV competition last month with her energetic dance routine.
Judge Simon Cowell gave the group a standing ovation after their performance at the auditions in May this year, describing them as ‘‘absolutely brilliant’.
The teenager posted cheerful messages on social media four weeks ago, but her body was found just before midnight on Friday on the busy highway near her home in Rancho Cucamonga.
Emily’s heartbroken twin brother Alex paid tribute to his ‘little sister’ on social media with a photo montage of their childhood together.
“The time we spend together will never be enough,” he wrote.
‘You were my entire childhood and the memories we made together and all the places we visited and saw together will stay with me forever.
You really broke my heart, Em.
“I will always stand up for you and live for you.”
Emily was a member of both the school dance team and the school cheerleading team.
Parents Brandy and Steven Gold said they have a “hole as big as the universe” in their hearts following the sudden death of their daughter on Friday night
Emily’s twin brother Alex paid his own touching tribute to his ‘little sister’
Emily in her last Instagram post four weeks ago
And friends of the dancer shared their own memories of her.
“Let everyone know that she is now at peace, even though there were many who loved and even looked up to Emily Gold,” Samantha Shaw wrote on Facebook.
‘She will be remembered no matter what by her Grizzly friends and by those who loved her with all their heart and soul.
‘Emily Gold, thank you for everything you’ve done in this world. You’ve done more than enough. Claws up to you Emily. Claws up.’
America’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell was one of those impressed by the group’s performance.
“What I loved about this was the energy, first of all,” he told his fellow judges. “I think I just saw everything a great school should do, which is encourage talent and friendship.
“It reminded me of the movie High School Musical and I thought, ‘Every kid should go to a school like that.’”
Multiple callers alerted the California Highway Patrol after seeing Emily on the road just east of Haven Avenue.
A CHP spokesman said multiple vehicles had already driven into her body when officers arrived and at least one vehicle had not stopped.
The school brought up the news of the senior’s death in a message to students on Saturday.
The teen was still happily posting messages on her social media accounts weeks before her death
Emily died a month after her dance team was eliminated from America’s Got Talent
“Emily was on our dance team and cheerleading team. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they grieve.”
“Please keep Emily and her loved ones and friends in your thoughts and prayers,” Los Osos High School Principal Eric Cypher added in a written statement.
Fellow group member Mia Bustamante said Emily would be “missed beyond words.”
“You brought me the most beautiful kind of love I could ever ask for. My best friend, my forever dancing sister,” she wrote on Instagram.
If you are in crisis, call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741