9-Year-Old Girl Dies After Being Crushed by Falling Tree in Green Bay

Just after arriving home from a grocery run, a young girl and her family were swept into an irreversible tragedy during a summer storm.

Rose Elizabeth Hendricks, a nine-year-old girl from Green Bay, Wisconsin, died after being struck by a large tree on June 23, 2025. The tree collapsed as she and her brother stood outside their house on Blithe Street, having just returned from a trip to the market.

The incident occurred during a thunderstorm warning, with powerful wind gusts reportedly reaching up to 58 miles per hour.

While speaking to NBC26, Rose's mother, Jayme Denamur, recounted how the wind suddenly picked up and brought down part of a neighbor's tree directly onto her daughter, narrowly missing her son.

Local residents attempted to lift the tree off Rose but were unable to move it without specialized equipment. A floor jack was eventually used to free her as first responders arrived on the scene after 3:30 p.m.

Green Bay Metro Fire Department Chief Mike Vanden Avond confirmed that Rose was conscious and breathing when emergency crews arrived, though she had suffered serious injuries. She was transported to St. Vincent Hospital, where she died later that night around 10:15 p.m.

The distraught mother spoke to the news outlet while standing near the spot where her daughter was pinned. "It's just so hard on us, and her brother doesn't know how to take it quite yet," she said. "But, he's upset. This morning, he just begged and asked for his sister to come back."

"She was very strong," Jayme continued. "She fought until she couldn't no more [sic]."

She also shared how Rose had overcome challenges from the very beginning of her life. "My daughter's actually a miracle baby," Jayme said. "She wasn't supposed to make it during birth. She was born with collapsed lungs, and doctors told me she wasn't going to make it. But, she proved them wrong and she only lived to be nine."

Her father, Richard Krystof, described the joy Rose brought into their lives. "She made the day better if it was a bad day," he said. Jayme added that Rose "loved cracking jokes," while Richard remembered, "[She had] comebacks for everything you throw at her."

The couple asked city crews to preserve a piece of the tree that caused the accident, a keepsake of a life that ended too soon.

Meanwhile, community members have rallied to support the grieving family. A GoFundMe page launched to help cover funeral costs has raised over $16,000 toward a $24,000 goal.

The fundraiser message highlights Rose's love for softball, video games, and art, and her caring nature, especially her constant concern for her brother's well-being.

In the days following her death, Jayme posted multiple tributes on social media. On June 24, she wrote, "A piece of me missing now and forever wish it was my life and not my baby love so much baby girl I will never stop thinking about you hunny you will forever be in my thoughts [sic]."

In the same post, she uploaded a picture of the young girl wearing a leather jacket, shorts, and Chucks while smiling for the camera.

A while later, the heartbroken mom uploaded several photos of her girl accompanied by friends and other kids. In one photo, she is in full softball gear.

Jayme's message read, "I lost my daughter Rose Elizabeth Hendricks tonight and words can't describe what I'm feeling. At 3:30 p.m. my daughter was crushed by falling tree from the wind. She was fighting for 6 long hours and passed away. I'm so lost and can't sleep just keep wishing it was bad dream [sic]."

Another post on June 25 featured a cartoon angel meant to represent Rose, along with her interests like TikTok, art, softball, and gaming. The caption said, "She such beautiful baby girl. God I miss her so much. My heart is feeling pretty empty without her [sic]."

In one post, she shared an image titled, "LETTERS TO MY DAUGHTER IN HEAVEN." The message below seems to be a poem about not forgetting a loved one, even though they are gone.

Jayme also uploaded a photo of a bouquet delivered by the police department in Rose's memory, a gesture of condolence and solidarity.

As the family prepares a vigil in honor of their daughter, they are left to process this tragedy surrounded by a wave of community compassion. We offer our sincere condolences to them at this time.