Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Fashion designer Kate Spade left behind a note telling her daughter that she should not blame herself for her suicide, according to police sources. The missive, discovered after the handbag maven’s body was found in her Manhattan apartment Tuesday, addresses her 13-year-old daughter Frances Beatrix Spade. “This has nothing to do with you,” the note reads in part, according to sources. “Don’t feel guilty. Ask your dad.” Kate Spade’s husband, Andrew, was home when the suicide was discovered, but Frances was at school, sources said. No criminality is suspected, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea said at an unrelated press conference. “At this point, there was a note left. The contents of that note, as well as the physical state of the apartment and the comments of the witness, lend to the credibility that it is an apparent suicide,” he said.<doc-sep>The famous handbag designer's sister said the suicide was not a surprise. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more! Famed handbag designer Kate Spade left a suicide note with a heartbreaking message for her family. "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" she wrote to her 13-year-old daughter Frances, according to TMZ. Spade, 55, hanged herself with a scarf and was found by a housekeeper in her Park Avanue apartment. Her husband Andy Spade picked up their daughter from school with police, and "everyone was crying," People reported. Spade's family said they were struggling to comprehend the designer's demise. “We are all devastated by today’s tragedy,” her family said in a statement. “We loved Kate dearly and will miss her terribly. We would ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time.” One of Spade's sisters, Reta Saffo, told the New York Daily News that the suicide didn't come as a surprise. “I will say this was not unexpected by me. I’d flown out to Napa and NYC several times in the past 3-4 years to help her to get the treatment she needed (inpatient hospitalization)," she wrote in an email. "She was always a very excitable little girl and I felt all the stress/pressure of her brand (KS) may have flipped the switch where she eventually became full-on manic depressive." The sister said she tried to get help for Spade in a mental health facility. “She was all set to go — but then chickened out by morning. We’d get sooo close to packing her bags, but — in the end, the ‘image’ of her brand (happy-go-lucky Kate Spade) was more important for her to keep up," she wrote. "She was definitely worried about what people would say if they found out.” Spade's company also put out a statement about the suicide. “Although Kate has not been affiliated with the brand for more than a decade, she and her husband and creative partner, Andy, were the founders of our beloved brand,” it said. “Kate will be dearly missed.” Individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts are encouraged to seek help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available to provide emotional support during mental health emergencies, 24/7. They can be reached at 1-800-273-8255. [Photo: Getty]<doc-sep>kate spade suicide note Fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead this morning in her home at 850 Park Avenue. She reportedly hung herself with a scarf tied to a doorknob while her husband Andy was in another room. She was found by her housekeeper. She left a note. Before we get into the details of her death and note, please know that there are people who can help if you're feeling hopeless. Call a friend. Call a family member. Call the national suicide hotline at 800-273-8255. You are important. You are needed here on earth. Here's what we know so far about Kate Spade's death and Kate Spade's suicide note to her daughter: RELATED: 15 Best Kate Spade Quotes About Life, Business, And Making An Entrance 1. Her final thoughts were for her daughter. In her suicide note, Kate Spade reportedly told her daughter that is was not her fault. A post shared by Kimberly Rowe (@kimberlyrowepaints) on Jun 5, 2018 at 1:38pm PDTIs Kate Spade Related To David Spade? 2. The note was addressed to her daughter. The suicide note was found on a bed near her lifeless body. Sources with the police department have reported the note was addressed to her daughter and said: "Bea - I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" RELATED: Is Kate Spade Related To David Spade? A post shared by Closer Weekly (@closerweekly) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:09pm PDT 3. Her daughter was not home at the time. Kate's husband Andy was home at the time of her suicide and in another room. Thankfully, the couple's 13-year-old daughter Frances Beatrix Spade, was not home at the time. She was at school. A post shared by Tricia Grainger-Viles (@miss_tricia2) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:07pm PDT 4. Why did she kill herself? While earlier in the day Page Sixreported a police source had told the New York Post that "police believe the suicide was 'over family problems ... in her relationship,'” Spade's sister Refa Saffo has since shared that while her suicide was tragically "not unexpected." Story continues Saffo shared the following statement with The Kansas City Star: "I will say this was not unexpected by me. I'd flown out to Napa and NYC several times in the past 3-4 years to help her to get the treatment she needed (inpatient hospitalization). She was always a very excitable little girl and I felt all the stress/pressure of her brand (KS) may have flipped the switch where she eventually became full-on manic depressive ... "I'd come so VERY close to getting her to go in for treatment (to the same place Catherine Zeta-Jones went for her successful bipolar treatment program). I'd spoken with them on the phone (not telling them exactly who the patient would be). They agreed to fly in and talk with her and take her with them to the treatment center. "She was all set to go — but then chickened out by morning. I even said I (would) go with her and be a 'patient' too (she liked that idea) I said we could talk about it all — our childhood, etc. That I could help her fill in any blanks she might have ... "That seemed to make her more comfortable, and we'd get sooo close to packing her bags, but — in the end, the 'image' of her brand (happy-go-lucky Kate Spade) was more important for her to keep up. She was definitely worried about what people would say if they found out ... "After numerous attempts [assisted by Spade's husband and business partner, Andy Spade], I finally let go ... Sometimes you simply cannot SAVE people from themselves! One of the last things she said to me was, 'Reta, I know you hate funerals and don't attend them, but for me would you PLEASE come to MINE, at least. Please!' I know she perhaps had a plan, but she insisted she did not. "​ RELATED: How Did Kate Spade Die? New Devastating Details About The Tragic Death Of The Iconic Designer A post shared by Molly Squires Art + Design (@molly_squires_art) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:02pm PDT 5. The housekeeper found her. Kate's housekeeper found her with a red scarf tied to a closet doorknob in the bedroom. She was cold and unresponsive. The housekeeper called 911 and then ran out to get the building superintendent who rushed upstairs, cut the scarf from her neck and attempted CPR. A post shared by Kathryn McRitchie (@kathrynmcritchie) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:06pm PDT 6. Her death is officially a suicide. The NYPD Chief of Detectives said the following at a press conference: ​“At this point, there was a note left. The contents of that note, as well as the physical state of the apartment and the comments of the witness, lend to the credibility that it is an apparent suicide." A post shared by Shari Allison (@shariallison07) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:05pm PDT 7. The CFDA honored her. Kate Spade was twice-honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. The first time was in 1996 as an emerging accessories designer to watch and the second time in 1998 as the best accessories designer of the year. The group's annual gala and awards show took place Monday. Spade did not attend. The CFDA released a statement shortly after news of her death hit the wires. ​ CFDA heads Steven Kolb and Diane von Furstenberg said: 'The CFDA is devastated to hear the news of our friend, colleague, and CFDA member Kate Spade’s tragic passing. She was a great talent who had an immeasurable impact on American fashion and the way the world viewed American accessories. We want to honor her life and her major contribution to the fashion business and express our most sincere condolences to the family." A post shared by Suzanne (@suzie_uch) on Jun 5, 2018 at 2:07pm PDT 8. Her daughter was her priority. Kate Spade left her business behind when her daughter was born. Shortly after Bea was born, Kate realized her priorities had shifted.<doc-sep>The note the designer left after she hanged herself had messages for her husband and daughter and was meant to explain her actions, a police source says Kate Spade Left Suicide Note — Meant to Explain Herself — with Messages for Husband and Daughter: Source The note that designer Kate Spade left behind after she hanged herself early Tuesday had messages for both her husband and 13-year-old daughter and was meant to explain her actions, a New York City police source tells PEOPLE. Spade, 55, was found by a housekeeper around 10 a.m. in her bedroom at her Park Avenue apartment in N.Y.C., according to authorities. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to The New York Times. Get push notifications with news, features and more. Police have publicly described Spade’s message as a “suicide note” but said they would not discuss its contents, and department spokespeople similarly declined when reached by PEOPLE. However, a police source confirms the note was intended for Spade’s family. The Associated Press reported that the note was meant in part to tell Spade’s daughter that the suicide was not her fault. 5th Anniversary of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Kate Spade in 2008 | Credit: Brian Ach/WireImage There are conflicting reports about where Spade’s daughter, Frances, and husband, Andy, were when she killed herself. Andy later picked up Frances at school, accompanied by police. “Everyone was crying,” a source close to the family tells PEOPLE. In a statement, Spade’s family reportedly said they were “devastated by today’s tragedy.” “We loved Kate dearly and will miss her terribly,” they said. “We would ask that our privacy be respected as we grieve during this very difficult time.” Kate Spade, née Katherine Noel Brosnahan, founded her namesake label with her husband in 1993. Thanks largely to her colorful handbags, the company rose through the years to billion-dollar prominence even as she sold her ownership stake in 2006. In 2016, she returned from a years-long fashion hiatus to launch a new accessories, handbag and shoes brand, Frances Valentine, named after her daughter. “I needed a break and I really wanted to raise my daughter,” she told PEOPLE. “People asked me, ‘Don’t you miss it?’ I really didn’t. I mean, I loved what I was doing, but I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I might.”<doc-sep>
Kate Spade was found dead in her New York apartment on Tuesday. A note was found on a bed near Spade's body that was addressed to her 13-year-old daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade, TMZ reported. "Bea — I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" the note said, according to TMZ. The fashion designer Kate Spade was found dead in her New York apartment on Tuesday in what authorities reportedly believe was a suicide. A note was found on a bed near Spade's body that was addressed to her 13-year-old daughter, Frances Beatrix Spade, TMZ reported. Citing law-enforcement sources, TMZ reported that the note said: "Bea — I have always loved you. This is not your fault. Ask Daddy!" The New York Post revealed a slightly different version of the note, citing police sources. According to the Post's report, the note reads in part: "This has nothing to do with you. ... Don't feel guilty. Ask your dad.” A housekeeper found Spade in her home at 850 Park Ave. at about 10:20 a.m., The Associated Press reported, citing law-enforcement officials. Spade is believed to have hanged herself with a red scarf tied to her bedroom doorknob, according to The New York Times, which said she left behind a note. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:26 a.m., The Times said. A New York Police Department source told the New York Post that Spade left behind a note. "At this point, there was a note left," the department's chief of detectives, Dermot Shea, told the Post. "The contents of that note, as well as the physical state of the apartment and the comments of the witness, lend to the credibility that it is an apparent suicide." "I have yet to see any note left behind and am appalled that a private message to my daughter has been so heartlessly shared with the media," Spade's husband, Andy Spade, said in a statement to The New York Times on Wednesday. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations. Remembering Kate Spade: