Crime

Just-Convicted Arsonist Drops Dead in Court — And Shock Video Shows He Might Have Poisoned Himself

An Arizona man convicted of setting fire to his own home when he couldn’t pay the mortgage was sitting in the middle of a court room listening to his guilty verdict and only minutes later he died. Video footage shows that former Wall Street trader Michael Marin may have taken an “unknown toxic substance” and committed suicide.

Arizona Man Convicted of Arson Allegedly Commits Suicide in Court Room after Verdict

Michael Marin of Arizona appears to put something into his mouth after a guilty verdict. (Image: My Fox Phoenix screenshot)

The My Fox Phoenix affiliate reports the Scottsdale man entered the court room holding a bottle of liquid. He took a long drink, then listened to the verdict. After hearing the words “[...] guilty of arson of an occupied structure” from the jury, Marin can be seen putting his head in his hands, sliding his hands up his face and appearing to place something in his mouth. The proceedings continued and he repeated a similar action, taking a drink, putting his face in his hands and could have placed something in his mouth. At 12:52 p.m., Marin took a final drink. Within 10 minutes, paramedics arrived, and Marin was declared dead.

Watch the My Fox Phoenix report (Warning: Footage of Marin beginning to convulse is included and could be considered disturbing):

He would have faced 16 years in jail had he have lived.

Here’s more of a description from Fox of the time between Marin allegedly swallowing something and his death:

A few seconds later, he turned to talk to the people sitting behind him.

A woman handed him tissue, and it’s a downward spiral from there.

He began to convulse at first lightly. But quickly it grows more violent. His attorneys called for help.

Marin hunched over, slowly collapsing to the ground as others rushed in to help. Someone asked for someone to call 911 and several people ran to help him.

About 10 minutes later, cell phone video captured paramedics wheeling Marin into an ambulance. He was later declared dead.

Arizona Man Convicted of Arson Allegedly Commits Suicide in Court Room after Verdict

Michael Marin is taken to the hospital after allegedly taking a pill or drinking a toxic liquid that could have been the cause of his court room death. (Photo: My Fox Phoenix)

Officials say that they cannot without a doubt verify that Marin actually took something in order to commit suicide and are waiting for a toxicology report that could take up to two weeks to complete. As the Herald Sun points out, he may not have even taken a pill, if cause of death was in fact a toxic substance — it could have been in the “unknown liquid” he was seen drinking.

In the mean time, the authorities are contacting family members and others to see if Marin had hinted at what he might do after a guilty verdict.

“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,” said Mericopa County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jeff Sprong, according to Fox.

Marin burned down his $3.5 million home in 2009 and was found at the time outside in his scuba gear after escaping from a second story window.

This story has been updated to include more information.

(H/T: Drudge Report)

Comments (60)

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  • gingerbread
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 3:10pm

    As Winston Churchill once said: “IT’S ONLY AN ILL WIND THAT DOES NO ONE ANY GOOD”. Just look at it this way, he just saved the state of Arizona one hell of a lot of money, They don’t have to pay for his room & board. Hurray for our side.

    Report Post » gingerbread  
  • reconmarine
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 3:00pm

    I’m glad that I turned up the volume. I thought that he had just heard the Obamacare verdict.

    Report Post »  
  • woebegone
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:57pm

    The commentator is wrong, this isn’t “unheard of” it’s just usually unsuccessful. Whether it happens in the courtroom, or before or after the courtroom, it happens often. It is usually a pathetic bid to get a mental health, rather than criminal sentence–worse it works often enough to take the chance. Honestly, it says everything you need to know about these people–we all would be better off without them or forcing them to live. They know that–how much research do you need to realize these people are telling you the truth? Leave them alone, stop forcing your morality on them, save us all a lot of time and money, the ones that have something to offer are likely the same ones that would choose a different path. Even if they aren’t how much of what they have to offer is likely to add to the current compendium. Twisted is twisted and in the end we know an awful lot about it works, people really aren’t that different.

    Report Post »  
  • Blazen420
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:50pm

    I’d rather die than serve a long prison sentence too.

    Report Post »  
  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:35pm

    I respect this guy. Thanks for not robbing more people with your prison sentence.

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
  • Desert Dog
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:58pm

    Whatever he took should be handed out to all felons. Maybe we taxpayers wouldn’t have so many deadbeats to support with our hard earned money. Sorry, no sympathy here……………………

    Report Post » Desert Dog  
    • VanceUppercut
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:09pm

      @DESERT DOG

      Or maybe you should support rewriting the law so we aren’t sending people to prison because they have a couple joints on them. You “Law and order Conservatives” are the ones always pushing for tougher laws and draconian sentencing, and then complaining about having to pay taxes to house criminals. I‘m really sorry that you have to work an extra shift at Skeeter’s Pizza Shack because of all the taxes they take out of your check, but maybe it’s time for Cons to rethink their “lock ‘em’ all up” mentality.

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:22pm

      At least Desert Dog works…… you might try it yourself sometime Vance……You also may want to do some research as to where the marijuana laws came from and why (hint – democrats trying to gin up racism as usual)

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • Psytoxic
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 2:59pm

      “Whatever he took should be handed out to all felons.”

      Thank you Desert Dog for your incredible wisdom. I am a convicted felon and your tax money never supported me. I spent zero time incarcerated and yet you say I deserve death. I work hard for my income and I live within my means. It’s comments like yours that give conservatives a bad image.

      Report Post » Psytoxic  
    • caa55
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 6:03pm

      Unlike you Dessert Dog, some good people have made mistakes in life. Even young kids 16 years old (in certain states) can do something stupid and end up ‘a felon’ for life. I KNOW.

      May God show you the same mercy and compassion you show others.

      Report Post »  
  • dave88
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:54pm

    Setting your house on fire and then jumping out of the second story window dressed in a scuba suit and then poisoning yourself in court? Sounds like typical liberal behavior to me.

    Report Post »  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:15pm

    He was guilty of a crime. He felt he had no hope left & opted to die rather than go to prison. He made permanent choices. God have mercy. People need to know that help is out there. Reach out to others you see who are despondent.

    Report Post »  
    • shogun459
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:51pm

      You saw a lot of this in Germany after WWI as they printed more money.

      Report Post » shogun459  
  • chazmo
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:14pm

    Obama lied, people commit suicide

    Report Post » chazmo  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:12pm

    He burned his own mansion to the ground and placed several firefighters in danger due to the material added for the torching session; I watched the news here in Phoenix when the manor burned and in the case of the defendant poisoning himself, his choice on the ending, if he could not bear to face accountability, he will face it with God.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • JohnLarson
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:57pm

    He had a 3.5 million dollar home…

    Would not being able to pay the mortgage and maybe getting demoted to the upper middle class really suck that much?

    Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:59pm

      the love of money makes people do evil and wicked things just look at our elected officials, most came into office with little or nothing but now look at them, millions in the bank, look at Obama.

      Report Post »  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:43pm

    Symptom of a materialistic society.

    Report Post »  
  • Angel_light
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:43pm

    this is sad. but i have to say that he was a coward to take his own life after learning he had to pay the consequances of his actions.

    Report Post » Angel_light  
  • I am 'We the People
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:29pm

    This is sad on so many levels…I feel for his family.

    Thanks government, for policies enacted leading to the death of another American citizen.

    Report Post » I am 'We the People  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 4:29pm

      He sort of looks Canadian. Maybe it’s just his little ears.

      Report Post »  
  • MyAgendaIsTruth
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:10pm

    We should all get use to this. Since Barack Kardashian will have death panels for his healthcare. You get seriously hurt and it will cost big $$$ commit suicide, Too old: commit suicide, Too stupid: commit suicide, Too white: commit suicide (at least that is what Barry & Holder wants), commit a serious crime: commit suicide.

    Our life span is going to go from 78 down to 60 with Obamacare.

    Report Post » MyAgendaIsTruth  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:24pm

      The only people crying are the Lawyers…who now can’t make bilions of a never-ending trial-streeme of “leaks” and pre-missinformation, and the “blame-whitey and all his kind” crowd. He would have gone to jail with”not enough-time/too-much-time/shoulda-woulda-hada-death-conviction… …” .

      Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:04pm

    Many people who have been pillars of their communities and worked all their lives to keep their head above water are suddenly faced with financial destruction, thanks to obama and the democrats-socialists. They are destroying this country and it’s people. These socialists are destroying businesses and jobs and they are doing it on purpose. Most likely….5 years ago…this man would have never dreamed that he had to stoop to burning his own home for money and then find himself sitting in a courtroom about to go to jail…….much less imagining suicide. Screw you obama.

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 4:35pm

      If you donate enough money to his campaign, he might let you.

      Report Post »  
  • republic2011
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:59am

    He was obviously troubled. God have mercy on his soul.

    Report Post »  
    • woebegone
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 1:42pm

      According to Dante suicides go to the seventh circle of hell–and they absolutely belong there, they are murders as heinous and vicious as any other murderer maybe more. This is not an occasion for sympathy to anyone but the family that had to endure his life, not his death. So heartfelt condolences to the family and all witnesses to his rageful, infantile hostility, maybe now you can find some peace. I hope so.

      Report Post »  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:58am

    This happened at a trial that I sat on…and that was about 2002. But the guy was a drug pusher…and ODed after he left the court room when he got the guilty verdict.

    Desperate people do desperate things in desperate times.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:58am

    A sad story. Can’t condone his arson but the corruption of the mortgage meltdown has claimed another victim.

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:32pm

      He’s GUILTY…but he’sa VICTIM!!!!! Tipical PROG-weinie-wimp. The MENNENDAS-BROTHERS KILLED THEIR PARRENTS!! but because they were soooo handsom(according to many jurors) they were “found” not-guilty. “they-were-so-hansom” made them VICTIMS!! oH THEY WENT-OUT, RELOADED THEIR SEMI-AUTO-SHOTGUNS AND RE-SHOT THEIR PARRENTS, AGAIN! The jurors were selected by the LAWYERS OF BOTH SIDES, as usual, instead of BY THE JUDGE-ONLY!

      Report Post »  
    • RGFROMTEXAS
      Posted on July 1, 2012 at 12:45pm

      G-WIZ

      1) Calm Down – I had to turn down my speakers
      2) Get Spell-Check
      3) The Menendez Brother were found guilty !! They are still in Prison !!

      Report Post »  
  • tbo
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:58am

    Maybe we should revert to the democrat’s game plan and blame Obama and the democrats. After all a lot of the housing market demise can be put at the feet of the democrats plan to give everyone a house even if they could not or should not have had a mortgage.

    His irrational decision to set his house on fire was probably due to the valuation drop. His house was underwater so how could it burn :) Now his actions are a consequence of that irrational decision.

    Report Post » tbo  
    • OneTermPresident
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:30pm

      Add to that… they fought regulating Fannie and Freddie since 2001. Then Obama comes along with his Wall Street regulation reform… and the only thing LEFT out is Fannie and Freddie. Then the Democrats asked for another $26 Billion in taxpayer money to prop it up again. In 2008 Obama took $105,849 dollars in campaign contributions from them too.

      Report Post » OneTermPresident  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:52pm

      Bwanny Fawnk caused the first realestate-bubble…The next day after HIS bubble-burst, he began his mantra(again) about demanding loans for poor with no deposite-needed!! With his “loos-lips” HE caused a run-on-many-banks…then deenigh–deenigh–deenigh!!! Then HE&Kiss-Dod formed a “bill” which was NOT read before it passed. It has an “open-ended” feature for the future-formation of infinnate regulations on many different things only they know about.

      Report Post »  
  • rowdygirl
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:58am

    Saw footage of a captured serial killer, Leonard Lake, doing this during his police interview.. he kept the tablets with him all the time in case he was ever caught. It was probably a cyanide pill. It will kill you pretty quickly.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Lake

    Report Post »  
    • SamIamTwo
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:01pm

      Yep, I think it maybe more common with certain types than not…too much media {TMM} lately or media is finally getting caught up…they report on anything and everything…why…we are voyeurs…part of the human nature thangie.

      Hmm wonder if the media jobs are doing well…lol

      Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Dont-hate-on-me-2
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:56am

    Thank You sir for not wasting the money of the taxpayers. You may have only had a few years sentence but you decided to turn it into the death penalty. RIP.

    Report Post » Dont-hate-on-me-2  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:28pm

      Why couldnt he have done it before we spent any money and time om a trial…and RIP? No….

      Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Apple Bite
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:47am

    How many have committed suicide under Obama thus far, for one reason or another, connected to the Economic situation in this country?

    Report Post » Apple Bite  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:15pm

      Wait until Obamacare kicks in fully … government will supply the pill.

      Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 12:37pm

      A few of O‘bama’s gay-lovers “found-dead” before the selection/election, but only a few secconds of MSM-news-time about this story came-out…just enough time to read the “title”….then on-to-the-next non-story.

      Report Post »  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:45am

    Thanks for saving the tax payers the cost of your incarceration

    Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • T-2
    Posted on June 29, 2012 at 11:44am

    he probably figures that Holder can’t help him.

    Report Post »  
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