McKinlee Culkin, the sister of former SLHS cheerleader McKenna Culkin, took her own life at the age of 14 on Monday, December 1, 2025.
McKenna announced the tragic news on her social media.
McKenna Culkin was a dedicated member of the SLHS cheerleader squad.
She actively shared her passion for cheerleading with friends and often shared glimpses of team camaraderie and spirited performances on social media.
After her graduation, she committed to the University of Connecticut (UConn). Her path to major university sidelines is paved with dedication, teamwork, and a whole lot of spirit.
Collegiate cheerleading often involves a higher level of athleticism, more complex stunts and tumbling, and performing for much larger audiences at major sporting events.
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A Family’s Heartbreak Becomes a Public Plea After McKinlee Culkin’s Death
McKinlee Hope Culkin was a beloved daughter, sister, granddaughter, and friend whose vibrant spirit was tragically lost.
She took her own life at the age of 14 on Monday, December 1, 2025.
Family and friends remember McKinlee as a kind soul with a gentle heart, a curious mind, and a future full of unfulfilled promise.
Her laughter was infectious, and her presence was a light that touched all who knew her.
The depth of this loss is immeasurable.
McKenna is heartbroken, and she has never felt a pain like this in her life.
McKinlee overdosed, and it took five days for the medication to shut down her organs slowly.
It kills me that within those five days, she never picked up the phone or came to talk to me and tell me what was going on.
McKenna Culkin
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McKinlee is survived by her grieving parents, her older sister, McKenna Culkin, with whom she shared an inseparable bond, and a large, loving extended family.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the outpouring of support and asks for privacy as they navigate this devastating time.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the outpouring of support and asks for privacy as they navigate this devastating time.
McKenna Culkin
Please, if you’re struggling, ask for help. I promise you, suicide is not the answer. It is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It passes your pain onto those you love. My door is always open if you need a shoulder to lean on. Anything is better than this. My heart is so immeasurably heavy.
I love you, McKinlee.
A private memorial service will be held for the immediate family.
McKinlee will be forever missed, forever remembered, and forever loved.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You are not alone.
Rest In Peace, McKinlee Hope Culkin.
