SEBASTIAN, Fla (CBS12) — A 16-year-old’s fatal fall at an abandoned condominium complex is putting a spotlight on the dangers posed by unsecured properties and fueling her family’s demand for changes they hope will prevent another tragedy.
Roylynn Scott died over the weekend, just days before the new school year was set to begin. Her family remembers her as vibrant, fiercely loyal and deeply loved — and says her death should be a wake-up call about the risks abandoned buildings can pose to young people and communities.
“You never expect anything like this to happen. And when it does, the grief is overwhelming. Just overwhelming,” said her grandmother, Carole Melasi.
Roylynn’s grandparents, Carole and Andrew Melasi, spoke exclusively with CBS12 News, sharing family photos and memories of the Vero Beach High School student they say had her whole life ahead of her.
According to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded Saturday night to an abandoned condo site off U.S. Highway 1 near the Indian River Lagoon after receiving a report that a teenager had fallen from a concrete structure and suffered critical injuries. Investigators said a group of juveniles had been trespassing on the property when the teen fell through a hole in the roof, plunging about 29 feet. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died. Detectives said evidence indicates the fall was accidental.
The family of 16-year-old Roylynn Scott is remembering a teenager they say was vibrant, loyal and loved by many after a tragic accident claimed her life over the weekend, just days before the start of the new school year, CBS12’s Luli Ortiz reports.
The Melasis identified the victim as Roylynn and described her as a teenager who loved her friends, adored animals and embraced her individuality.
“She would light the room up. She walked in, she let you know she was in the room. She had a lot of friends and she had a big personality,” Carole Melasi said.
Her grandmother said Roylynn left a lasting impression on the people around her.
“She loved her friends. She was loyal. She was my baby girl.”
As the family prepares for funeral services, they are also working to honor Roylynn’s memory. Through a GoFundMe campaign, loved ones are raising money for a memorial bench at one of her favorite parks and donations to animal charities she cared about.
Family members say this was one of the last photos taken of Roylynn Scott, 16, before her death. (Courtesy: Carole Melasi)
At the same time, the family is calling attention to the property where the accident occurred.
The unfinished buildings remain standing behind posted “No Trespassing” signs. They have sat abandoned since at least 2007, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The family hopes local leaders will take action to secure or demolish the abandoned structures to prevent another tragedy.
“We know what she did. We know that they shouldn’t have been trespassing. We know that. But the buildings shouldn’t be there,” Carole Melasi said.
Copilot said:A “No Trespassing” sign remains posted outside an abandoned condo development off U.S. Highway 1 near the Indian River Lagoon in Sebastian. Behind the sign, overgrown vegetation surrounds unfinished buildings that have remained vacant since at least 2007. Roylynn Scott’s family is now calling for the structures to be secured or demolished to prevent another tragedy. (WPEC)
The School District of Indian River County said grief counselors remain available for students and staff affected by the loss. A moment of silence is also planned before Friday night’s Vero Beach High School football game, with the family’s consent.
Many students also plan to wear purple, Roylynn’s favorite color, in her honor.
Following the tragedy, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office urged parents and teenagers to stay away from abandoned buildings, warning that deteriorating structures can pose serious safety risks.