Michael Marin
Michael James Marin (December 2, 1958 – June 28, 2012) was an American financier, lawyer, ex-Wall Street trader, and millionaire who died by suicide by cyanide ingestion after being convicted of arson.
Michael Marin | |
---|---|
Born | Michael James Marin December 2, 1958 |
Died | June 28, 2012 53) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | (aged
Cause of death | Suicide by cyanide ingestion |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Harvard University (B.A.), Yale University (J.D.) |
Spouse(s) | Tammy Gunderson
(m. 1980; div. 1992) |
Children | 4 |
Early life
Marin was raised in Oak Harbor, Washington. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he attended Brigham Young University. After college, he enrolled at Yale Law School.
Career
He advised on complex investments in the 1980s and '90s, working for Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch, and Salomon Brothers mainly in their operations in Asia.
He led a lavish lifestyle, buying a multimillion-dollar mansion in Arizona and collecting works of art that included etchings by Pablo Picasso. He traveled extensively throughout the Far East. An avid thrill seeker and adventurer, he travelled to exotic climates and summited the highest peaks of six continents, including Mount Everest in 2001.[1]
Death
Marin was tried for arson and insurance fraud for setting his home on fire.[2] Court hearings started on May 21, 2012, and Marin faced 7 to 21 years in prison if convicted.
The jury found Marin guilty on June 28, 2012. Soon after the verdict, and being informed that he was to be taken into custody immediately, he died by suicide in court. He was seen in court videos closing his eyes as the verdict was being read, before putting something in his mouth and drinking a liquid, before falling to the floor and convulsing. Marin was rushed to a central hospital in Phoenix and was pronounced dead; an autopsy confirmed he had taken a lethal dose of cyanide.[3][4][5] At the time of his death, he was a father of four and a grandfather of two.
References
- Kiefer, Michael (19 August 2012). "The extreme life and dramatic death of Michael Marin". USA Today. Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
- Crimsider Staff (29 June 2012). "Michael Marin, Arizona man, dies moments after being convicted in arson case". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- Muskal, Michael (27 July 2012). "Defendant commited [sic] suicide in courtroom by taking cyanide". Seattle Times. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
- "Michael Marin, former Wall Street trader, took cyanide after arson conviction, says autopsy". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
- "Former Wall Street banker committed suicide in court by taking cyanide pill after arson conviction: autopsy". National Post. Reuters. 2012-07-27. Archived from the original on 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-08-09.
Sheriff’s investigators found a canister of sodium cyanide powder inside his car after being alerted to the vehicle by Marin’s adult son.
The son had received a delayed email from Marin about the location and said his will was in order in case 'things don’t go well in court,' investigators said.
Sodium cyanide, commonly used to extract gold during the mining process, is known to inhibit breathing. Investigators believe Marin fashioned the powder he purchased last year from a California supplier into capsules to be consumed in court.