American Tourist's Friend Slams 'False Narrative' Of Her Plunging 980 Ft. To Death, 'Not Taking Pic'
Florida woman Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva fell about 1,000 feet down the Dolomites to her death. Her acquaintance refuted the media-shared narrative of the incident.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleAn enjoyable sightseeing trip turned into a horrific tragedy for an American tourist and her family after she plunged almost 1,000 feet to her death in Italy. The deceased tourist was identified as 36-year-old Florida woman Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva, who fell from a panoramic spot in the Dolomites, northern Italy, right in front of her family's eyes, as per local Italian reports.
The reports further stated that Michelle lost her footing and fell to her death while trying to take a photo of the scenic beauty. A friend or acquaintance of the tourist has refuted the account, saying that it was a "false narrative" of the incident and that media should be mindful of what they write about the deceased.
Late American tourist's acquaintance shares what exactly happened when she plunged to her death
Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva, a 36-year-old American tourist, died after falling from a mountain path in northern Italy. The tragedy occurred while she and her family were on vacation with a tour group, and, according to reports, she was trying to capture memorable moments on her phone. At that time, she allegedly stepped away from the safe mountain path to take the photograph when she fell 980 feet to her death, as reported by the Italian outlet Corriere della Sera.
Juli Grimaldo, a friend or acquaintance of the deceased, refuted the account of the incident shared by the media outlets, claiming that they were spreading misinformation regarding it. Juli shared a long rant in the comments of an Instagram post of a major American outlet about the tragedy. She stated, "It's deeply disappointing to read a news story that misrepresents what happened and spreads misinformation about such a tragic loss."
According to Juli, "Michelle was not taking a picture or holding a phone. She was admiring the view and eating a sandwich when she tragically lost her footing and fell to her death." The acquaintance defended Michelle against claims that she lost her life due to her negligence and fixation on her phone.
Juli slammed the reports about Michelle's death, accusing them of spreading falsehoods about someone's final moments without verification. In Juli's words:
"There is a profound difference between reporting a tragedy and creating a false narrative around someone's final moments."
It isn't clear what kind of relationship Juli Grimaldo and Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva shared; however, the former's defense of the latter and her calling her "Michi" suggested they were close. Juli said, "Michi was an adventurous soul who loved exploring the world, challenging herself, and experiencing its extraordinary beauty." She added, Michelle deserves to be remembered "for the incredible life she lived, not for a sensationalized story that is not true."
Juli wanted the news outlets to remember that behind Michelle's story "is a human being, a family, a husband, and friends who are grieving." She added, "Please show some journalistic responsibility and basic human decency. Verify the facts, correct the misinformation, and treat Michelle's memory with the dignity and respect she deserves."
Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva's sister tried to save her by alarming the emergency services
Michelle's family witnessed the late American tourist's horrific fall, and her sister made a last attempt to save her by raising the alarm from the rugged, pine-covered terrain. Soon after, emergency services arrived, and the Alta Val di Fassa team and an air ambulance were dispatched after the 112 control center received the call.
A mountain rescuer nearby reached the scene quickly and gave the helicopter crew exact coordinates to help them arrive faster. Medical personnel were lowered onto the mountainside at around 12.30 p.m., but despite their best efforts, Michelle was pronounced dead at the scene on October 17, 2026.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Michelle Alejandra Rubio Leiva's family as they cope with her loss.
Photo courtesy: NY Post/Instagram, Kaspars- stock.adobe.com
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