In the hours after 13-year-old Fiona Lowe’s death was announced, early reports appeared to provide a clear picture of what had happened.
But newly released official records have since changed an important part of that timeline.
Chad Lowe and his wife, producer Kim Painter, announced the devastating loss of their daughter on September 29, 2026, describing Fiona as a bright, creative teenager whose love of dance had become one of the qualities her family most associated with her.
“We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona. She was a loving young girl who was smart, creative and loved to dance.”The family continued:
“She was adored by her sisters, and she was deeply loved by her parents. In fact, she was the light of our lives.”
They called Fiona’s death “devastating” for the entire family and asked for prayers and privacy as they tried to process the loss.
Their statement also concluded with a message encouraging anyone experiencing a mental health crisis to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.
Fiona was the middle of Chad and Kim’s three daughters. Her sisters are Mabel, 17, and Nixie, 10.
As news of Fiona’s death spread, people who knew her also began sharing memories of the teenager outside the public spotlight surrounding her family.
One source described her as:
“sweet, quiet and kind.”
The source added:
“She was always kind to other students. Many of her friends are out today grieving.”
Another person familiar with Fiona described her as “a very well-liked student” who “had a lot of friends.”
Her school community was informed of the tragedy on Tuesday morning.
An email reportedly sent by the principal said:
“It is with deep sadness that I am calling you to advise you of the death of one of our students.”
The message continued:
“Our sincere condolences go out to the student’s family, friends and teachers.”
Counselors were made available for students and staff members who needed emotional support.
The loss has been particularly heartbreaking in light of how frequently Chad had spoken publicly about the importance of being a father.
During a December 2025 appearance on the “Still Here Hollywood” podcast, the “Life Goes On” actor reflected on what raising three daughters had meant to him.
“It’s so interesting because always wanting to have my own experiences and not live in the shadow or follow in the footsteps of somebody, I get the experience of being a girl dad, which is such a privilege.”
He explained that fatherhood had also changed how personally he understood issues affecting women.
“And I feel bad for anyone who’s a parent … I feel like having daughters is such an incredible privilege because it takes what I have known intellectually about women and all the equality and the glass ceiling that’s there, and how it’s a misogynistic world in many ways.”
He continued:
“And now it’s taken what I’ve known, and it’s put it in my heart because I now have three daughters. So, I look at the world from, really, their perspective.”
His social media posts similarly reflected how central his daughters were to his life.
For Fiona’s birthday in November 2025, Chad celebrated his middle daughter officially becoming a teenager.
“Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!!”
The words now carry a much more painful meaning.
During a family ski trip in 2024, Chad had also written that he did not “take one moment of it for granted,” adding the hashtags “blessed” and “girl dad.”
The family had already experienced an enormous loss before Fiona’s death.
Their home was destroyed during the January 2025 Pacific Palisades Fire, wiping away the house where the three sisters had spent much of their childhood.
Several weeks later, Chad shared photographs showing his daughters returning to the property to see what remained.
“Almost a month after we evacuated our [sic] girls finally got to go back to see what’s left of their home.”
He praised the way they had coped with the disaster.
“The way they’ve handled this whole devastating experience is nothing short of remarkable.”
He continued:
“I am in awe of their spirit and resilience. Helping them navigate these tough times is my sole purpose. Being their dad is my life’s greatest joy and privilege.”
Now, as Chad, Kim, and their daughters face another devastating loss, official records have provided additional information about Fiona’s final hours.
An initial report stated that authorities were called to the Lowe family home at approximately 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday.
Early reporting suggested that Fiona had died at the residence.
However, records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later established that she was pronounced dead at a hospital rather than at the family home.
Additional reporting subsequently provided the exact time.
Fiona was pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m. on September 29.
Taken together, the available information indicates that authorities were called to the home at around 12:10 a.m., and Fiona was pronounced dead at a local hospital a little more than an hour later.
The publicly available reports do not explain exactly what occurred during that period.
That distinction is important because it changes the earliest account of where Fiona’s death was officially pronounced.
On October 1, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner also released another deeply painful development.
Fiona’s manner of death was ruled a suicide.
The case had previously remained open while officials completed their review.
No additional circumstances surrounding her death were disclosed in the reports released by the family or medical examiner.
Chad’s representatives reportedly did not provide further comment regarding the newly released information.
Members of Fiona’s extended family have also publicly mourned her.
Her grandfather, Charles “Chuck” Lowe, shared a photograph of Fiona and wrote simply:
“Rest in peace.”
Chad, 58, is the younger brother of actor Rob Lowe.
He was previously married to actress Hilary Swank, and he and Kim have been married since 2010.
For the Lowe family, however, those biographical details are secondary to the loss they are now experiencing.
Fiona was their daughter, sister, granddaughter, friend, classmate, and, in the words of her parents, “the light” of their lives.
As more official information has emerged about her final hours, one thing has remained unchanged.
Her family has continued asking for privacy, compassion, and prayers as they grieve an unimaginable loss.
And the memories shared by those who knew Fiona have continued to focus not on the circumstances of her death, but on the person she was—a quiet, kind teenager who loved dancing and was deeply loved by the people around her.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.