Michael Marin Commits Suicide In The Courtroom After Being Convicted of Arson

This is the horrifying moment a millionaire convicted of burning down his $3.5million mansion poisoned himself in court.

As the guilty verdict was read out, Michael Marin closed his eyes and held his head in his hands before appearing to slip something into his mouth.

Minutes later, the 53-year-old collapsed to the floor in convulsions and died.

The shocking scenes were caught on camera in Maricopa County Superior Court in Arizona, where Marin had been on trial since May.

The father-of-four torched his mansion in Phoenix on July 5, 2009, because, prosecutors claimed, he could no longer afford the mortgage.

Fire Department investigators concluded that the blaze was started deliberately after finding several points of origin throughout the sprawling 6,600 sq ft home, which boasted four garages.

Marin was found outside the burning property after climbing from a second floor bedroom using a rope ladder and wearing scuba diving gear, according to Fox News.

Marin faced 16 years in prison as the charge of committing arson in an occupied structure holds the same sentence as second-degree murder in Arizona.

Footage from the courtroom yesterday shows a shocked Marin covering his face with his hands before appearing to place something into his mouth.

The grandfather-of-two appears to swallow a number of times before taking a drink from the water bottle on the table in front of him.

Minutes later he appears to be struggling to breathe before collapsing to the ground as others in the court rush over to help.

Marin was taken to a hospital in Arizona where he was pronounced dead.

Toxicology tests will be carried out on the former Wall Street trader's body and the water bottle he drank from.

MCSO spokesman Jeff Sprong told Fox: "Obviously if you watch the video it looks like he does put something in his mouth.

"We cannot verify that at this point and we're not going to be able to until the toxicology report comes back.

"We will obviously contact family to see if this is something he hinted at doing, maybe he left a note you know, it just needs to be thoroughly investigated then hopefully we'll find out why he did it and what he did."

• Category

  News & Politics

[Carola Caris]

Michael did die from cyanide, it is very painful as it burns your stomach by the gas that is created in the stomach and it cuts off all oxygen to your body.. Michael was a wonderful person, he was an attorney and investment banker but retired. If he would have done it, he would have known how to walk away from it as well. He was one of the smartest people I know.I miss you Michael and we will meet again .I love you!!

[dnaward2004]

Its his life. what he was doesnt matter anymore. His choice. Saved a lot of money, at least.

[hujjesb]

Also there are more guilty men working in banks right now after losing billions .this is so sad

[hujjesb]

This is just a shame poor guy .if he had done this in UK he prob only got 1 year in prison .and out in 7 mths .were they just happy to destroy the man .anyway there are worse men in the Banks in USA ,UK there still in there jobs after losing billions .they are more guilty then this poor guy ,hope the jury sleep well .

[longplainfirstnation]

The cyanide ion halts cellular respiration by inhibiting an enzyme in the mitochondria called cytochrome c oxidase. Stomach gas, you're funny.

[swensonj43]

I'm not sure on your beliefs but suicide usually isn't a golden ticket to Heaven and the Pearly Gates! What's sad is that he had options which included selling the house....bankruptcy etc.. instead of ending his life. Very sad.

[send2michael]

What faith do you believe in that you will meet those that commit suicide and fraud?

[ywmpg]

(Thank you for your reply....)I guess he didn't realize that because of his doing this, that not only his FRIENDS would then know about his foreclosure, but a whole lot MORE people in the country found out after his doing that. It's still so very sad.....very sad....

[RedToeNails026]

It's all about a sense of pride. He doesn't want his friends to know that his home went into foreclosure.

[shockoloco]

Like he wouldn't have any enemies who would like to burn his mansion for a simple fact they didn't like his lifestyle!

[Justin Buckner]

Some of you people who comment saying he was a coward don't know what he was going through!!!!!. So what gives you people the right to call someone a coward because he took his own life??? Hell if I was in that situation I probably would have taken mine too. It's nothing worst then feeling hopelessness!. Every last one of us who lives on PLANET EARTH goes through something in life and we all handle our problems in different ways, so just because he was hurting & felt that was the right thing to

[Reg Veeden]

Lousy, sociopathic scumbag. He burns down the family home, then instead of facing up to the punishment, kills himself. No thought whatsoever for the woman he married or the children he sired. I hope it was as agonizing as it looked.