Edna Schmidt, a former journalist and news anchor for Univision and Telemundo, passed away on June 24, 2021 at the age of 51. Her death shocked and saddened many of her colleagues and fans, who remembered her as a talented and professional reporter. But what was the cause of her death? Here is what we know so far.
A Mysterious Death
The official cause of Edna Schmidt’s death has not been revealed yet. According to Primer Impacto, a Univision News program, she was declared brain dead after suffering a fall in Puerto Rico, where she lived. However, this information has not been confirmed by her family or any official sources.
Some media outlets have speculated that Edna Schmidt’s death was related to her struggle with alcoholism, which she publicly admitted in 2014. In an interview with Univision Chicago, she said that she started drinking heavily after the death of her fiancé in 2011, who passed away unexpectedly. She also said that she felt betrayed by some people at her work, who contributed to her dismissal from Univision in 2011 and Telemundo in 2013.
Edna Schmidt said that she sought treatment for her addiction and that she wanted to return to journalism. However, she also acknowledged that it was a difficult and ongoing process. She said that she had relapsed several times and that she had lost everything because of alcohol.
A Remarkable Career
Before her personal and professional downfall, Edna Schmidt had a remarkable career as a journalist and news anchor. She was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents and moved to Puerto Rico as a young adult. She started her career as a newscaster for WSJN-TV (Channel 24) in 1992.
She then moved to Chicago, where she worked for WGBO-TV (Channel 66), a local Spanish language station. In 2002, she joined Telefutura, a division of Univision Communications, as the inaugural anchor of “Noticias al Minuto” (Latest Minute News). She later became the weekend anchor for Noticiero Univision: Fin de Semana and Noticiero Univision: Edición Noctura (Evening Edition).
She covered many important events, such as the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, the anthrax threat, and the execution of Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh. She also earned several awards and recognitions, such as being named the National Godmother of the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City in 2007.
A Legacy of Respect
Despite her tragic end, Edna Schmidt left a legacy of respect and admiration among her peers and viewers. Many of them expressed their condolences and tributes on social media, remembering her as a professional, elegant, and charismatic journalist.
Some of her former co-workers at Univision and Telemundo also shared their memories and emotions on their programs. They highlighted her passion for journalism and her dedication to inform the Hispanic community in the United States.
Edna Schmidt was one of the most prominent faces of Spanish-language television in the country. Her death is a loss not only for her family and friends, but also for the entire industry and audience that followed her for decades.
