Following the attack in London on Wednesday, the names of those who died have trickled out to the public and people around the world are experiencing the grief. On Thursday, it was confirmed that American Kurt Cochran was among the London attack victims. At the time, he and his wife, Melissa, were in London celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and visiting Melissa's parents. Tragically, the two were planning on coming back home just a day after the attack occurred. Melissa remains in the hospital due to injuries.
Clint Payne, Melissa's brother, released a heartbreaking statement via the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
Our family is heartbroken to learn of the death of our brother- and son-in-law, Kurt W Cochran. Kurt was a good man and a loving husband to our sister and daughter, Melissa. They were in Europe to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, and were scheduled to return to the United States on Thursday.
Melissa also received serious injuries in the attack, and is being cared for in the hospital. We express our gratitude to the emergency and medical personnel who have cared for them and ask for your prayers on behalf of Melissa and our family. Kurt will be greatly missed, and we ask for privacy as our family mourns and as Melissa recovers from her injuries.
Following the news of Cochran's death, Donald Trump tweeted about Cochran, who lived in Utah, and offered his prayers.
Cochran was killed in what London Metropolitan police are investigating as a terrorist attack, and indeed, the militant extremist group that calls itself ISIS has taken responsibility for the atrocity. The attack, during which an assailant plowed into a crowd on the Westminster Bridge and charged toward Parliament on foot, resulted in the deaths of two other innocent people: Police Constable Keith Palmer and Aysha Frade, a mother of two.
Cochran was only 54 years old. Relatives told Salt Lake City, Utah's local Fox 13 station that he and Melissa were on what they considered to be their "dream vacation," which had also included time in Germany and Austria.
Shortly after his death, a GoFundMe page was set up for Melissa. The page suggests that the couple was self-employed and had their own recording studio back in Utah. They had been working on the endeavor for 10 years. You can donate to Melissa here, via the GoFundMe page set up by her brother.
