Show C2 — The Herald Journal Logan Utah Wednesday February 25 2004 Las Vovas’ exe©§s§ a or orndM© saoSendloJ Whether they’re looking for sign anonymity hapless flock to resort town fears and apprehensions Strickland who was in AlcoLAS VEGAS (AP) — It’s the city of excess Wliat Lawrence Orbe didn't come to holics Anonymous was worthe Las Vegas Strip looking to ried his girlfriend would leave could be more of an excess win big He didn’t come for him after his i than killing yourself?" But why Las ' the strippers or “The average person who “I’ve asked myself that 100 comes here still sees it as Sin shows He came to die times” said Judi Kagiwada of City where the rules of their lives have been suspended Middleboro Mass whose Orbe 64 checked into the where their actions have no husband Terrence exclusive Four Seasons Hotel at himself on March 1 1 after driving his a downtown hanged consequences" casino on March 5 2003 silver Jaguar from his condoThere are consequences to Relatives suggest their dead suicide of course minium in Montecito Calif loved ones might have been The body of William L Five days later a maid Mauldin Illwas discovered attracted to a place where you found the businessman in his can get lost and be found room slumped in a chair with Aug 2 1999 in a swath of a gunshot wound to the head only when it’s too late rocky dirt next to New 10- York and a suicide note in his Experts say some might leather briefcase have been looking for one last story parking garage In the ‘‘Las Vegas was one of his disc jocksign not to pull the trigger or tie the noose: A jackpot " ey’s pocket was a note for his very favorite places’’ said his mother: “Tell her I’m sorry former wife Loni Chiarella blackjack or smile Anything and I love ha with all my “You’re in a place that “They always treated him like heart I have been depressed a king He loved Las Vegas” nobody cares It’s not famous for being warm and fuzzy It’s for almost a year now Don’t Every year desperate men a place you can be anonymous' blame anyone but me” and women make the pilgrim' and die” said David P Finding the body would age to the gambling capital to have the a at devastated family memkill themselves More than Phillips sociologist bers and that may partly California at once a month a visitor comof University a explain why William chose mits suicide here according to San Diego who 1997 study that found Las Las Vegas brother Rob Clark County coroner records ' Vegas had the highest level of Mauldin said “He was proba- 1998 October to dating suicide in the nation for resi- bly trying to protein love ones By comparison Atlantic from the horror” dents and visitors City NJ had about Still he said “I wouldn’t as many nonresidents take Nothing protects families their lives during that period ' bet big money on any particu- - from the long-terhurt that ' In the same six years no one follows the death notification lar explanation” behind the and yet county Corona' deaths committed suicide at Disney Michael Murphy said the World Victims included a banker musician Las news doesn’t always come as and officer immigration Vegas “They pjck kill themselves” former Clark pharmacist exotic dancer taxi a shock cab driver disc jockey car “Some even expect the County Coroner Ron Flud said “It’s a fact” salesman and professional call" he said But saying exactly why is gambler Most came from California same as the More than 90 people both not so straightforward tourists and locals have comtourists Others hailed from Experts and family mem- mitted suicide inside a casino Texas Wisconsin New York beiVhave their thoughts — Utah Kansas Maine and or on hotel properties in Clark from the city's culture of County since 1998 Twenty anonymity to despair in some Oklahoma — 26 states and have jumped from casinos and two foreign countries in all cases over gambling losses Almost all had medical But each case is different parking garages including financial or domestic prob- -' three from the Stratosphere As one suicide note said o lems In some cases victims the tallest build“Here there are no answers” the west of appeared to suffer from gaming Mississippi Orbe married Chiarella in bling addiction or killed them- Las Vegas three years ago and selves only after Las Vegas took their money found the city luxurious ' Elton Beamish 24 drove to “They always showered Las Vegas from Ann Arbor him with the attention he felt he deserved” she said Mich where he was a student ' for at the University of Michigan The two had separated and He checked into a motel Jan planned to divorce Chiarella 12 2000 Four days later he said Orbe was also desponlb the editor: was dead His checkbook told dent over recent financial setCommon Ground Outdoor the story backs But what he was Adventures would like to reclost be Beamish will his financialalways thinking ' aid the followand thank ognize and became unclear money ' 12- volunteers He a “Lawrence remained a ing participating depressed bought and donors for their help at gauge shotgun from Kmart mystery to those dose to Common Ground’s booth at in she said it his mouth and him" pulled put the Banff Film Festival A the trigger Four months after Orbe’s suicide Gloreah Hendricks special thanks to Kevin Kobe and the staff of the Outdoor Suicide destinations exist 30 jumped from the ninth around the world the most Recreation Center at Utah ' floor Of the Aladdin State University for their confamous of which is the Gold- piukihg garage on July ' en Gate Bridge where more tinual support of Common 192003 than 1000 people have - Ground’s Her family thought Hen- adaptive program their deaths since to dricks was on vacation in Las Thank you to Kelly and the jumped ' the bridge was constructed in staff at Einstein' Brothers Vegas which she considered 1937 It averages about 20 said her mother beautiful Bagels Randy Sally and 'suicides a year V Rosemary Pitts of MontMidge at Caffe Ibis Laura ' Ala Other with resonate places gomery "ihe suicidal such as Mount 7 In her car police jfoiund a note that said: “One stop and ' Mihara in Japan and the UTAH 3752-307- 2 ' Empire State Building in New ADULTS S300TCHILDREN S20a awaylgoi” York Matthew Naylor didn't tXarhdyilHr lU VUQSBi I ' Las Vegas is different It has ' leave a note before killing great seats GREAT SOUNDB no association with death himself on June 21 2002 at great picture " o the Plaza even though in 2001 Nevada PETER RAN pq lost hope ranked third behind New' The 3 DaMy 40-7:1- 0 Mexico and Montana in sui- said his father Lewis Naylor cide rates according to die kn engineer iii Baltimore: “He ' American Association of Sui- -' just had a lot of challenges in He couldn’t and life cidology For many years it gaye up was No L see how it was al going to ' From 1991 to 2002 4994' pome together to make a life ' worth living” people killed themselves in Nevada Of those about 11 David Strickland a percent or 547 were from out Hollywood actor whose of state Most suicides take wrists were scarred from pre- vious suicide attempts toured place in southern Nevada’s ' clubs before and populousClark County home partied strip " he put a bed sheet around his to the Strip and its decadence and debauchery neck at the Oasis Motel on March 22 1999 “Vegas is a canvas for Strickland was depressed he ‘American neurosis” UNLV “had fallen off the wagon” history professor Hal Roth- ' man said “It’s a place where his friend and fellow actor Dick we paint our hopes dreams told Andy investigators over-the-t- op York-Ne- w hotel-casin- o's one-thi- rd m hotel-casin- AP photo Las Vegas Coroner Michael Murphy looks over autopsy Jan 27 2004 of two recent gunshot deaths of visitors to Las Vegas According to coroner's records going back to October 1998 a visitor commits suicide in the nation’s gambling capital about once a month self-inflict- ed ys Casino companies could do more but they “don’t want to be connected to us” says Dorothy Bryant director of the Suicide Prevention Center in Las Vegas Hotels could ' place the center’s hot line number in rooms or other places for guests she says ' Alan Feldman MGM Mirage senior vice president for public affairs said saving people who are suicidal once they arrive in Las Vegas probably is impossible “If a person’s closest friends and family can’t prevent it” Feldman said “How is the bellman at the hotel all of a sudden going to have this miraculous cure? I don’t know if there is very much we can do" It was not a hot line but coincidence that saved one Texas man’s life 51 year-old Seven and a half years ago he y ticket to bought a Las Vegas to kill himself “I came here knowing I was going to do it” he said at his Las Vegas apartment speaking on condition drat he not be identified “I felt very comfortable with it All of sudden nodring bothered me” He checked into die Westward Ho on the Strip and wandered the city drinking and gambling for about two weeks before final- ' ly deciding to die July 19 him testing die rope Police arrived and there was a stand-- off He told officers he had a bomb so they wouldn’t rush -- one-wa- hotel-casi- ' no 1996 He cut some nylon rope from the room’s curtains ' looped it around a pipe and tied a noose A maid caught ' him Thinking of his mother he later changed his mind and surrendered The Vietnam veteran who suffers from post traumatic stress disorder according to his doctor was institutionalized given treatment and eventually released Suicide is never far away — he’s tried it twice since Las Vegas will be his final him stop though it’s hard for ' to say precisely why’ : “I always felt something lured me here This was my destiny I can’t get away from can’t get out from under it It’s going to end here l ean tell you that” itI Thanks to you Thanks festival support - " : - ‘ - : hotel-casi- no Blonski Cathy Burkes Dusty Carpenter Melissa Harvey Chad Jessop and Timrnie Kent for providing refreshments and to all those that bought refreshments at the film festival The fundraising effort was a great success and raised $184 The proceeds will be used to increase opportunities fa youth and adults with disabilities to participate in outdoor activities including skiing snow shoeing! cycling river rafting canoeing horse- back riding rock climbing’ destination trips and more !Thank you Heather Damitz Logan Quick response a life-sav- er To the editor: On Friday Jan 30 2004 my ' daughter Tamara Dame and her friend Julie Voreis were involved in a terrible accident on 5th South and Main in - ' Logan 1 need to thank the people of your community for the help that you gave our daughters that night Officer Dickey ' your quick response helped save pur daughters’ lives ' Your kindness this past week has meant a lot to our family ' Logan City is very lucky to have you as one of their police officers Thank you to all of the fire fighters that took such good Care in getting Tammy out of the car and to the hospi- -' tal Thank you to the doctors nurses and everyone else at the Logan hospital for your help in saving my daughter’s life Another thank you to the other motorists and witnesses to the accident My daughter is alive because of die Lord and the wonderful people of your community We are for- ever in your debt Thank you so much SherriC Dame' Ogden Ellen Ecdes Theatre Presents : -- ‘ ' — : hotel-casin- - An American Favorite! : : - - : - Thursday and Friday February 26 and 27 7:30 Ticirtn$20$29$35 '25tfffrr USUtOticnUwitkID 435-752-00- pm '! 26 Center for the Arts 43 S Main Logan wwwpentcrfbrtheartsus : : Sfmimi & THEATDE if Mni OUoa k Ectfca Cii liak ml Hilt Hogu Lr RmTkf HtnUJowpaliad UiafcMIieBiJie SM1A ' ' |