‘Truth-seeking’ 36-year-old mother of 2 dies of COVID-19 after more than 1-month hospital stay – Argus Leader

Jessica Kaylyn Noethlich, 36, died of COVID-19 on May 20.(Photo: Greg Noethlich)

Jessica Kaylyn Noethlich tested positive for COVID-19 in early April. Just a few days later, the 36-year-old mother of two was hospitalized.

On April 15, she posted on the South Dakota COVID-19 Information Group on Facebook asking for support.

"Hi. My name is Jess and Im a 36 (year old)female whos been in the ICU with COVID since April 7th," she wrote."Im just wondering if there are any other younger individuals who have been in the same predicament and would be open to chatting about their experience? This is an incredibly lonely and terrifying experience. I could really use some support right now from someone who understands. Thanks."

By April 21, she was intubated and put on a ventilator. Every sign of potential improvement was countered with a setback. Her mother, Cindy Borg, described the ordeal as a "roller coaster ride" on the CaringBridge site where she posted frequent updates.

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"Jess has a pneumothorax in both lungs so they are inserting chest tubes," Cindy wrote on May 3. "She cried when (her brother Greg) and I came tonight. You could see tears. She tried to mouth something to Greg. ...Tonight I am discouraged. Tired. Sad that my beautiful daughter has to suffer like this."

She continued to fight frequent fevers, low oxygen levels, bacterial pneumonia, lung scarring and blood sepsis.

On day 43 May 20 Noethlich died.

Like many who have received a COVID-19 diagnosis,Noethlich's fight was on public display on Facebook, where she had developed a loyal following from her "Missing and Murdered" group she co-created to help bring attention to missing person cases.

Friends and family described her ascaring, compassionate and outgoing. On her Facebook page, Noethlich turned her passion into a relentless quest to find the truth in unsolved mysteries.

"She was always authentic, just and very approachable, especially when people were hurting or in need," brother Greg Noethlich said.

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Noethlich was born in Watertown and graduated from Roosevelt High School after moving to Sioux Falls.Noethlich was hospitalized for almost 30 days when she was a teenager after a serious car crash. That led to health and pain problems later in life, Borg said.

COVID-19 hospitalized Noethlich in early April, but she continued to seek support from her friends and community on Facebook. Borg said even in her last days, her daughter still tried to help others by sending a message to followers that the pandemicwasn't over.

"I know one (message) she posted while in isolation in the COVID unit was for people to get their vaccine and to not underestimate that COVID was alive and well out there," Borg said. Her family saysNoethlich had not received the vaccine when she got sick in early April.

Outside of the COVID group on Facebook, Noethlich was known for posting in anotherpopular Facebook group that looked to solve unsolved mysteries.

An avid true-crime fan, Noethlich started a Facebook group called "The Missing & Murdered"out of Sioux Falls to help solve disappearances and unsolved deaths. Thegroup gained more than 5,000 followers in the span of about two years.

Noethlich created the group to raise awareness about South Dakota cases, but it quickly spread into a nationwide effort.

One of the co-founding members of the group was Noethlich's friend Nicole Strickland. The pair met online and developed a 14-year close friendship even though they never met in person.

Through Noethlich's desire to investigate, Strickland said Noethlich started connecting with families of missing and murdered people. Her "kind-hearted" nature allowed her to get the scoop on the latest information coming out of different investigations.

"She had a way with people.Family of missing people would just confide in her," Strickland said.

Old photo of Jessica Kaylyn Noethlich and her two daughters.(Photo: Greg Noethlich)

Borg said her daughter sent her an invite to join the group early on, but she didn't accept the invite until after Noethlich's death. Since then, she's come to realize the impact her daughter had through her work in the group.

"I didn't know she was doing all of that work.I never knew it was as big as it was," Borg said, "Over 700 people watched her funeral."

The "Missing and Murdered" group on Facebook kept up-to-date with Noethlich's battle with COVID-19 through frequent status updates from those close to Noethlich.

When word spread of Noethlich's death, many members of the group sent their condolences. The funeral was livestreamed and links were posted in the private group for virtual attendees.

"Her family was so gracious in livestreaming the funeral so we couldall watch," Strickland said.

Although many of those more than 5,000 group members never actually met Noethlich in person, Strickland said they all considered her a close friend.

Even with their "fearless" leader gone, the group has continued to post status updates on missing or murdered cases and other crimes in or around Sioux Falls.

Strickland said the group's mission continues without Noethlich in charge, and it now serves as her lasting legacy.

"Jess is going to continue helping people even in her death, she doesn't even know it," Strickland said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for medical and funeral expenses as well as help support Noethlich's two daughters.

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'Truth-seeking' 36-year-old mother of 2 dies of COVID-19 after more than 1-month hospital stay - Argus Leader