Michael Marin

Michael Marin
Michael Marin
Born	Michael James Marin; December 2, 1958
Died	June 28, 2012 (aged 53); Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Cause of death	Suicide by cyanide ingestion
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Harvard University (B.A.), Yale University (J.D.)
Spouse	Tammy Gunderson (m. 1980; div. 1992)
Children	4

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.

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 (August 19, 2012). "The extreme life and dramatic death of Michael Marin". USA Today. Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
^ Crimsider Staff (June 29, 2012). "Michael Marin, Arizona man, dies moments after being convicted in arson case". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
^ Muskal, Michael (July 27, 2012). "Defendant commited [sic] suicide in courtroom by taking cyanide". Seattle Times. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
^ "Michael Marin, former Wall Street trader, took cyanide after arson conviction, says autopsy". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.
^ "Former Wall Street banker committed suicide in court by taking cyanide pill after arson conviction: autopsy". National Post. Reuters. July 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021. 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.

[usatoday-1] Kiefer, Michael (August 19, 2012). "The extreme life and dramatic death of Michael Marin". USA Today. Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved July 16, 2017.

[2] Crimsider Staff (June 29, 2012). "Michael Marin, Arizona man, dies moments after being convicted in arson case". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved June 22, 2020.

[3] Muskal, Michael (July 27, 2012). "Defendant commited [sic] suicide in courtroom by taking cyanide". Seattle Times. Retrieved June 22, 2020.

[4] "Michael Marin, former Wall Street trader, took cyanide after arson conviction, says autopsy". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved August 9, 2021.

[5] "Former Wall Street banker committed suicide in court by taking cyanide pill after arson conviction: autopsy". National Post. Reuters. July 27, 2012. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved August 9, 2021. 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.

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