The Most Brutal and Bizarre Suicides in History

Here are some unbelievable and unimaginable ways to end one’s own life.

Gerald Mellin

In 2008, Gerald Mellin, a U.K. businessman, committed suicide by tying one end of a rope around his neck and the other to a tree. He then got into his car and drove down a main road in Swansea until the rope decapitated him

Kevin Neil Whitrick

In 2007, Kevin Whitrick, a 42-year-old British electrical engineer, committed suicide by hanging himself live on a webcam during an Internet chat session

Australian Man

In 1995, a 39-year-old man committed suicide in Canberra, Australia by shooting himself with a pump action shotgun 3 times. The first shot passed through his chest and went out the other side. He reloaded and shot away his throat and part of his jaw. Breathing through the wound in his throat, he again reloaded, held the gun against his chest with his hands and operated the trigger with his toes. This shot entered the thoracic cavity and demolished the heart, killing him.

Brian Douglas Wells

In 2003, Brian Douglas Wells, an American pizza delivery man in Erie, Pennsylvania, was killed by a time bomb that had been fastened around his neck. He was apprehended by the police after robbing a bank, and claimed he had been forced to do it by three people who had put the bomb around his neck and would kill him if he refused. The bomb later exploded, killing him

Richard Sumner

In 2002, Richard Sumner, a British artist suffering from schizophrenia, went into a remote section of Clocaenog Forest in Denbighshire, Wales, handcuffed himself to a tree and threw the keys out of his reach. His skeleton was discovered three years later

Bernd-Jurgen Brandes

In 2001, Bernd-Jurgen Brandes, from Germany, was voluntarily stabbed repeatedly and then partly eaten by Armin Meiwes (who was later called the Cannibal of Rotenburg). Brandes had answered an internet advertisement by Meiwes looking for someone for this purpose. Brandes explicitly stated in his will that he wished to be killed and eaten.

Sharon Lopatka

In 1996, Sharon Lopatka, an Internet entrepreneur from Maryland, allegedly solicited a man via the Internet to torture and kill her for the purpose of sexual gratification. Her killer, Robert Fredrick Glass, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for the homicide

Franco Brun

In 1987, Franco Brun, a 22-year-old prisoner at Toronto East Detention Center, in Toronto, Ontario, choked to death after attempting to swallow a Gideon’s Bible.

Jimmy Lee Gray

In 1983, Jimmy Lee Gray, a man executed in Mississippi's gas chamber, died bashing his head against a metal pole behind the chair he was strapped into. The poisonous gas had failed to kill him but left him in agony and gasping for eight minutes

William Kogut

In 1930, William Kogut, an inmate on death row at San Quentin, committed suicide with a pipe bomb created from several packs of playing cards and the hollow leg from his cot. At the time, the red ink in playing cards contained flammable nitrocellulose, which when wet can create an explosive mixture. Kogut used the heater in his cell to activate the bomb.

See also

• The 12 Most Absurd and Weirdest Acts of World Leaders and Their Obscure Deaths
• The Weirdest and Most Unusual Deaths of Great Kings and Leaders
• The Most Peculiar and Unusual Ways on How People Were Killed by Machines
• The 13 Most Horrifying and Ridiculous Deaths Ever
• 12 Absurd and Strange Ways To Die
• The Most Excruciating, Brutal and Cruel Punishments in History
• 10 Weirdest and Bizarre Causes of Deaths
• 15 Most Notable Crucifixions in History
• Remarkable Live Telecast Deaths
• World’s Most Famous and Notorious Suicide Places
• World’s Deadliest Waterfalls

The Most Brutal and Bizarre Suicides in History

Here are some unbelievable and unimaginable ways to end one’s own life.

Gerald Mellin

In 2008, Gerald Mellin, a U.K. businessman, committed suicide by tying one end of a rope around his neck and the other to a tree. He then got into his car and drove down a main road in Swansea until the rope decapitated him

Kevin Neil Whitrick

In 2007, Kevin Whitrick, a 42-year-old British electrical engineer, committed suicide by hanging himself live on a webcam during an Internet chat session

Australian Man

In 1995, a 39-year-old man committed suicide in Canberra, Australia by shooting himself with a pump action shotgun 3 times. The first shot passed through his chest and went out the other side. He reloaded and shot away his throat and part of his jaw. Breathing through the wound in his throat, he again reloaded, held the gun against his chest with his hands and operated the trigger with his toes. This shot entered the thoracic cavity and demolished the heart, killing him.

Brian Douglas Wells

In 2003, Brian Douglas Wells, an American pizza delivery man in Erie, Pennsylvania, was killed by a time bomb that had been fastened around his neck. He was apprehended by the police after robbing a bank, and claimed he had been forced to do it by three people who had put the bomb around his neck and would kill him if he refused. The bomb later exploded, killing him

Richard Sumner

In 2002, Richard Sumner, a British artist suffering from schizophrenia, went into a remote section of Clocaenog Forest in Denbighshire, Wales, handcuffed himself to a tree and threw the keys out of his reach. His skeleton was discovered three years later

Bernd-Jurgen Brandes

In 2001, Bernd-Jurgen Brandes, from Germany, was voluntarily stabbed repeatedly and then partly eaten by Armin Meiwes (who was later called the Cannibal of Rotenburg). Brandes had answered an internet advertisement by Meiwes looking for someone for this purpose. Brandes explicitly stated in his will that he wished to be killed and eaten.

Sharon Lopatka

In 1996, Sharon Lopatka, an Internet entrepreneur from Maryland, allegedly solicited a man via the Internet to torture and kill her for the purpose of sexual gratification. Her killer, Robert Fredrick Glass, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for the homicide

Franco Brun

In 1987, Franco Brun, a 22-year-old prisoner at Toronto East Detention Center, in Toronto, Ontario, choked to death after attempting to swallow a Gideon’s Bible.

Jimmy Lee Gray

In 1983, Jimmy Lee Gray, a man executed in Mississippi's gas chamber, died bashing his head against a metal pole behind the chair he was strapped into. The poisonous gas had failed to kill him but left him in agony and gasping for eight minutes

William Kogut

In 1930, William Kogut, an inmate on death row at San Quentin, committed suicide with a pipe bomb created from several packs of playing cards and the hollow leg from his cot. At the time, the red ink in playing cards contained flammable nitrocellulose, which when wet can create an explosive mixture. Kogut used the heater in his cell to activate the bomb.

See also

• The 12 Most Absurd and Weirdest Acts of World Leaders and Their Obscure Deaths
• The Weirdest and Most Unusual Deaths of Great Kings and Leaders
• The Most Peculiar and Unusual Ways on How People Were Killed by Machines
• The 13 Most Horrifying and Ridiculous Deaths Ever
• 12 Absurd and Strange Ways To Die
• The Most Excruciating, Brutal and Cruel Punishments in History
• 10 Weirdest and Bizarre Causes of Deaths
• 15 Most Notable Crucifixions in History
• Remarkable Live Telecast Deaths
• World’s Most Famous and Notorious Suicide Places
• World’s Deadliest Waterfalls

Remarkable Live Telecast Deaths

Some people like to die in front of televiewers and some were killed while on live telecast. Here are some remarkable deaths on live telecast.

Robert "Budd" Dwyer

Image Source

In 1987, Budd Dwyer, the State Treasurer of Pennsylvania, USA, committed suicide during a televised press conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Facing a potential 55-year jail sentence for alleged involvement in a conspiracy, Dwyer shot himself in the mouth with a revolver.

Inejiro Asanuma

Image Source

In 1960, Inejiro Asanuma, the head of the Japanese Socialist Party, was stabbed to death with a wakizashi sword by extreme rightist Otoya Yamaguchi during a televised political rally. The assassin, an extreme rightist, was only 17 year-old when the incident occurred.

Christine Chubbuck

Image Source

In 1974, Christine Chubbuck, an American television news reporter, committed suicide during a live broadcast on July 15. At 9:38 am, eight minutes into her talk show on WXLT-TV in Sarasota, Florida, USA. The news reporter shot herself in the head with a revolver.

Thomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper

Image Source

In 1984, Tommy Cooper, a British comedian, died of a heart attack while performing during a live TV broadcast at Her Majesty’s Theater in London. Initially the audience, thinking it was part of the act, continued to laugh as he lay collapsed on the stage. He was then pulled from sight as attempts were made to revive him off stage

Gareth Jones

In 1958, Gareth Jones, a British actor, collapsed and died between scenes of a live television play, Underground, at the studios of Associated Brities Corporation in Manchester. Jones suffered a massive heart attack and died between two of his scenes while in make-up.

Jerome Irving Rodale

In 1971, Jerome Rodale, an American pioneer of organic farming, died of a heart attack while being interviewed on “The Dick Cavett Show” The show was never broadcast.

See also

• The 12 Most Absurd and Weirdest Acts of World Leaders and Their Obscure Deaths
• The Weirdest and Most Unusual Deaths of Great Kings and Leaders
• The Most Peculiar and Unusual Ways on How People Were Killed by Machines
• The 13 Most Horrifying and Ridiculous Deaths Ever
• 12 Absurd and Strange Ways To Die
• The Most Excruciating, Brutal and Cruel Punishments in History
• 10 Weirdest and Bizarre Causes of Deaths
• 15 Most Notable Crucifixions in History 
• World's Most Famous and Notorious Suicide Places

Remarkable Live Telecast Deaths

Some people like to die in front of televiewers and some were killed while on live telecast. Here are some remarkable deaths on live telecast.

Robert "Budd" Dwyer

Image Source

In 1987, Budd Dwyer, the State Treasurer of Pennsylvania, USA, committed suicide during a televised press conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Facing a potential 55-year jail sentence for alleged involvement in a conspiracy, Dwyer shot himself in the mouth with a revolver.

Inejiro Asanuma

Image Source

In 1960, Inejiro Asanuma, the head of the Japanese Socialist Party, was stabbed to death with a wakizashi sword by extreme rightist Otoya Yamaguchi during a televised political rally. The assassin, an extreme rightist, was only 17 year-old when the incident occurred.

Christine Chubbuck

Image Source

In 1974, Christine Chubbuck, an American television news reporter, committed suicide during a live broadcast on July 15. At 9:38 am, eight minutes into her talk show on WXLT-TV in Sarasota, Florida, USA. The news reporter shot herself in the head with a revolver.

Thomas Frederick "Tommy" Cooper

Image Source

In 1984, Tommy Cooper, a British comedian, died of a heart attack while performing during a live TV broadcast at Her Majesty’s Theater in London. Initially the audience, thinking it was part of the act, continued to laugh as he lay collapsed on the stage. He was then pulled from sight as attempts were made to revive him off stage

Gareth Jones

In 1958, Gareth Jones, a British actor, collapsed and died between scenes of a live television play, Underground, at the studios of Associated Brities Corporation in Manchester. Jones suffered a massive heart attack and died between two of his scenes while in make-up.

Jerome Irving Rodale

In 1971, Jerome Rodale, an American pioneer of organic farming, died of a heart attack while being interviewed on “The Dick Cavett Show” The show was never broadcast.

See also

• The 12 Most Absurd and Weirdest Acts of World Leaders and Their Obscure Deaths
• The Weirdest and Most Unusual Deaths of Great Kings and Leaders
• The Most Peculiar and Unusual Ways on How People Were Killed by Machines
• The 13 Most Horrifying and Ridiculous Deaths Ever
• 12 Absurd and Strange Ways To Die
• The Most Excruciating, Brutal and Cruel Punishments in History
• 10 Weirdest and Bizarre Causes of Deaths
• 15 Most Notable Crucifixions in History 
• World's Most Famous and Notorious Suicide Places