The granddaughter of Rep. GOP Brad Wenstrup killed in Seoul mob attack

CNN
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Rep. Brad Wenstrup’s niece, Anne Marie Gieske, died in the The rise of the Halloween crowd in Seoul over the weekend, the Ohio Republican he said in a statement Monday.

“Monica and I, and our entire family, mourn the loss of our granddaughter Anne Marie Gieske. She was God’s gift to our family. We loved her so much,” Wenstrup said in the statement.

Wenstrup also released a statement on behalf of his parents, Dan and Madonna Gieske:

“We are completely devastated and saddened by the loss of Anne Marie. She was a bright light loved by all. We ask for your prayers but also respect for our privacy. Anne’s last gift to us was dying in the state of grace sanctifying. We know that one day we will be reunited with her in the kingdom of God,” they said in the statement provided by Wenstrup’s office.

Gieske, a nursing student at the University of Kentucky, had been studying abroad in Seoul this semester, according to a statement by the president of the university, Eli Capilouto.

“We have been in contact with Anne’s family and will provide all the support we can – now and in the coming days – as they cope with this indescribable loss,” the statement said. “We will be there for those in our community who knew and loved Anne. We also have almost 80 students from South Korea in the UK – members of our community – who need our support.”

South Korean authorities are investigating a stampede that killed at least 155 revelers in Seoul, as the battered nation tries to deal with one of its worst-ever disasters.

At least 26 foreigners, including two US citizens, are among the dead. More than a dozen embassies around the globe have confirmed casualties from their countries.

South Korea has begun a week-long mourning period as officials try to figure out how the devastating crash happened.