Trinidad journalist, former editor-in-chief found dead at home

(Trinidad Guardian) A post-mortem will be conducted to determine how Newsday’s former editor-in-chief and journalist Suzanne Mills died.

Mills, 59, was found dead at her home on Aquamarine Drive, Diamond Vale, Diego Martin, late Sunday night

Police say foul play is not suspected.

Police were called to her house around 11.40 pm Sunday, after other tenants on the compound told them that they had last seen Mills five days prior.

The tenants contacted the police after noticing a stench coming from the house.

First responders broke into the house and found her body around 11.58 pm in a bedroom.

Mills was the daughter of Newsday’s founding editor-in-chief, the late Therese Mills.

In 2019, Mills was reported missing but was found three days later and later wrote candidly about her battle with bipolar disease.

In addition to being the editor-in-chief, Mills was also a columnist at both Newsday and the Express newspaper.

On her website called SuzanneMills.net, she said of herself, “I am a nerve of a nerd with a word,” adding that is what she wanted her epitaph to read.

Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, MATT said it joins the journalism community in mourning the loss of Suzanne Mills, daughter of the legendary Therese Mills, the founding editor-in-chief of Newsday.

A well-regarded political reporter and commentator, MATT said Mills took up the job of Newsday editor, but had a relatively short career there, buffeted by mental health issues.

Mills wrote a column for several months in 2019-2020 for the Trinidad Express and openly discussed her experiences with bipolar disorder.

MATT said the circumstances of her passing are a powerful reminder of the toll that journalism can take on its practitioners and the importance of self-care and supportive conversations in the execution of our duties.

MATT added it is committed to increasing opportunities to address these issues facing journalists and extended our condolences to the friends and family of Mills on her passing.