Today, the funeral is being held for LaShanda Armstrong, the Newburgh woman who drove her minivan into the Hudson River, killing herself and three children (her 10-year-old son escaped). A joint funeral for Armstrong and 5-year-old Landon, 2-year-old Lance and 11-month old Lanaina was originally planned, but the father of the deceased children announced yesterday that the children would be buried apart from their mother. Armstrong's aunt was seething and told the Daily News, "I am very angry. This jackass just came in here and messed everything up. She should be buried with her children, regardless of what she did."
While Armstrong did not leave behind a suicide note, many believe that she was distraught over her boyfriend Jean Pierre's behavior. Friends and neighbors said he cheated on her and was emotionally abusive and noted the pair had many fights. Pierre said in a statement, "I have been inaccurately portrayed as being directly responsible for the tragedy. If I could, I would have changed some things in my past... I loved Landen, Lance, Laianna, Lashanda and still love La’Shaun with all my heart and am shocked and distraught by what happened."
LaShaun Armstrong, Armstrong's 10-year-old son by another man, survived the ordeal by managing to open his window and swimming to shore. He flagged down cars until a driver, Meave Ryan, stopped and took him back to the river to see if they could see the sinking minivan (they couldn't) and the a firehouse. Ryan attended the funeral and, according to the Journal News, "said she has nightmares and feels 'regretful' that she could not rescue the rest of the family. She said she wants to tell LaShaun, 'I will always be here for you and I
apologize for not doing more than I could.'"
