US

Skydiver Commits Suicide by Shedding Parachute at 8,000 Feet Over NY Field

Police say a veteran skydiver left a suicide note before intentionally casting off his parachute and falling to his death in a New York farm field.

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Investigator Rick Capasso says 60-year-old cabinet maker Robert “Señor” Raecke, unbuckled the chute after jumping from a plane at about 8,000 feet on Sunday. His body was found in a field in the Saratoga County town of Northumberland, 35 miles north of Albany.

Skydiver Commits Suicide by Removing Parachute Midair

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office interview with a witness (Courtesy: The Post Star)

Capasso said Monday that the note Raecke left behind and the subsequent investigation haven’t explained why he killed himself.

The Albany Times Union reports that Raecke had 9,000 jumps to his credit before he took his own life, and was unmarried with no children.

“Raecke lived in Duanesburg and worked for MMC Millwork Corp. in Albany. He was single and had no children. Company owner Sam Greco said Raecke worked for him for 14 years and he was an excellent employee. He showed no sign he was depressed or suicidal, Greco said.”

An autopsy found he died of blunt-force trauma.

The Times Union highlighted this photo of Raecke carrying an 1,800-square-foot American flag with him during a jump at the Schenectady Airshow in September 2001:

Skydiver Commits Suicide by Removing Parachute Midair

Copyright: Times Union

The Times Union adds that Raecke taught sky diving, and in 2006, he helped a local Associated Press reporter make his first accelerated free-fall jump.

According to The Daily Mail:

From almost three million jumps last year, 21 people died skydiving in the U.S. – an average of one every 141,509 jumps.

Most of the deaths are thought to be due to human error, rather than problems with equipment.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

Comments (101)

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  • flyguync
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:40pm

    I wonder if he had a change of heart when he reached about 1000 feet and saw the ground rushing up at him – a sensation I’m pretty sure he had not experienced previously.

    Report Post »  
  • String Bean
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:39pm

    Ok.

    All together, now.

    “Well, at least he died doing what he l-o-o-o-o-o-ved.”

    I am so SICK of hearing that from idiots who think that somehow eases the loss.

    Some jerk even sad it about the pilot who died in the Reno accident.

    How stupid!

    Report Post »  
    • Black Manta
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 4:07pm

      This man chose hell for the fact he could not wait for the Lord to call him…my heart goes out to that forever lost soul…there’s nothing that should make a human do that…hell is real wheither you believe it or not…it‘s a place of torment without parole i’m not kidding….so please ask yourselves where will you spend eternity when you die?

      Black Manta  
    • G.W. Dobbs
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 9:38pm

      I, too, have heard THAT same ole B.S.

      Report Post »  
    • Jowee
      Posted on September 28, 2011 at 4:58pm

      Please don‘t use someone’s death to proselytize your religion. How would you feel if someone you cared about died and a group of Muslims came up to you and told you that the person you cared about was in Hell and that you must follow Muhammad?

      Report Post »  
  • Parkeralan
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:35pm

    It seems like a lot of work, why not just jump out with no chute?

    Report Post » Parkeralan  
    • TPaine
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 9:16pm

      He would never be let on the jump plane without a ‘chute. No drop zone is going to let someone jump to their death knowingly. So he did the next best thing – paid for his ride, went up, went out, opened, and then unbuckled and fell to his death.

      I have no idea why anyone would kill himself, but it looks like he died doing what he loved to do. Past that, I will not make any remarks or judgements. Especially about God’s judgement.

      Report Post » TPaine  
  • conservativeKen1971
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:34pm

    “An autopsy found he died of blunt-force trauma.” DUH!

    Report Post » conservativeKen1971  
  • rdietz7
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:24pm

    To bad if he died because of politics because the good news is almost here. Faith in Christ will get you through all things and you will be filled with joy even when you are persecuted.

    Report Post » rdietz7  
    • Gates
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:37pm

      “Faith in Christ will get you through all things ”

      Most people in our country today think that what you said is laughable. We use to take it as fact. Just check out where we were vs where we are!

      The abundance we have enjoyed as a Christian nation is unsurpassed in the history of mankind. And yet we wonder about what happened to our prosperity? Talk about the obvious being ignored.

      Anyone who thinks God will fail to notice abortion, corruption and a nation who fails to recognize His Lordship will prosper is stupid beyond belief!

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:39pm

      “An autopsy found he died of blunt-force trauma.”

      Duh!!

      Report Post »  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:25am

      Thank you for reminding us to trust in God. Obama’s presidency has opened the eyes of many who never thought much of politics. Usually it takes pain to wake us up…and Obama’s presidency has definitely done that. Trust in God for all things.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
  • Azguy26
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:19pm

    @holy ghostbuster

    “At peace? He’s burning in hell right now for committing the sin of suicide.”

    I cant tell you how many times I’ve had this argument with people. Some think that if you kill yourself then no matter what you are going to hell. No ifs ands or buts about it. That could very well be the case, but others disagree. Anyway not one person has ever been able to show me the bible verse that backs that statement up. Good Luck finding it.

    Report Post »  
    • Oh well...
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:32pm

      No Bible verse needed. It’s called losing your faith in God. Either God is there and you know it and you can make it through anything or you deny his existance by losing faith that he sees your plight and will get your through it. It’s logic.

      Report Post »  
    • Cloth Stews
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:32pm

      @AZGUY You asked for the verse. How about John 3:16. If no one receives grace for any sin comitted then it is a pretty lonely place in eternity.

      Report Post »  
    • Jasgent
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:51pm

      I think you will find this is not correct. The only sin that is unforgivable is the sin of denying christ.–do you care to double down on your accusation. Not that it is THAT WE KNOW THE MIND OF THIS MAN.

      Report Post »  
    • sbish
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 12:53am

      Oh Well,
      I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but common sense is only going to lead an objective person away from believing in Christianity’s version of “god”, not lead one to believe in the Holy Trinity. In order to have faith in God, you first have to have faith in man, and more specifically, that the men who wrote the Bible actually were divinely inspired, as there is no possible way to verify that factoid. Therefore, it isn’t logical to mirror your life on the bible. What makes more sense, that god spoke to these people and they chronicled god’s thoughts for people to live by for all eternity, or that these men were participating in behavior modification for society towards a more moral civilation. I can’t imagine basing my entire life on the writings of other men from 18 centuries earlier, who reportedly were told by god what the moral code for the planet was going to be. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good moral code (when not perverted), but common sense leads one away from god, not to him. Here is a question I asked a preacher friend of mine which flies in the face of logic, and he still has not given me an answer (as there is no answer which is sensible). If god loves you unconditionally, how can it be that the mere fact that you don’t believe in Christ is an offense which will get you banished to hell for eternity? Seems like pretty harsh medicine. I’m glad my parents, who also loved me unconditionally, just sent me to my room when I disobeyed them.

      Report Post » sbish  
    • Cosmos102
      Posted on September 21, 2011 at 1:30am

      I am so glad that God makes His presence known to us when we invite Him in to our lives. To those who deny Him…one day they will face a wonderful, loving God, our Heavenly Father, and want to be part of that life, and God will say to you, “I never knew you”.

      Report Post » Cosmos102  
    • J0ey71
      Posted on September 22, 2011 at 2:05am

      @sbish, the Bible is clear that all enjoy God’s common grace while alive, but God does not love everyone unconditionally. Do a search on how many times the Bible notes that God hates the “wicked”, “evil doers”, etc., and you’ll see that those outside of Christ are considered by God to be His enemies, and He will judge them. The idea that God hates anyone may be contrary to what most people have heard or believe, but look into it for yourself. For those that are His, He loved them enough to become their sin, take their punishment and die for them. That kind of love is unconditional.

      Report Post »  
  • Bernice Durdan-Rowland
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:15pm

    More blood on Obama’s hands together with his Administration ——overwhelming the system is more than some can take……… this is bitter……….

    Report Post »  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:11pm

    I am sorry this man decided to kill himself, but I support his decision and I feel it is wrong that his decision is considered illegal in this country, supposedly a free country. In this country, we can decide if someone else dies (fetuses and death row inmates), but we can’t make that determination for our own selves.

    There is something terribly wrong with that. This man was not free, and his decision was probably the right one. No one should be forced to live un-free.

    Report Post » Secessionista  
  • Salamander
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:06pm

    If Freedom of Religion is Our 1st Freedom, perhaps Choosing When and Where to Die is our Last Freedom! There is nothing in our Consititution prohibiting his action. I‘m glad he didn’t accidentally stop at a school house on his way down! Maybe he just wanted to experience what so many people did on 9-11-2001.

    Report Post »  
    • antiencenom
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:57pm

      Well I wonder what the chances of a near miss are ?
      Boy then he’d pay.

      Report Post » antiencenom  
  • joe10082
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:02pm

    It may have been the case that he learned he was going to die a painful death from a disease for which there is no known cure and chose to skydive for one last time. As for the “burning in hell” comment that is for God to decide not us human folk. We don’t know the real truth of the matter.

    Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:43pm

      Maybe he was a democrap who just realized, thanks to Obummer, what a miscreant he has been and couldn’t stand it.

      Report Post »  
  • W@nd@
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:44pm

    It is the day we are living in
    that makes people feel so hopeless
    Really too many are opting out…
    they see no hope for the future
    because of washington and this administration
    the hope and changey thing was not what it was portrayed to be!…
    but please look beyond them..
    There is real hope!
    Jesus was called the Blessed Hope for a reason!
    When we come to Him, we move into His Kingdom and
    He moves into our lives!
    EVERYTHING changes with Jesus in it!
    I have lived life without Him and then with Him….
    night to day difference…you can not find the words
    to describe how He has helped, no matter the situation!
    You will never know until you take that step!
    I can only give a testimony to: it is real!
    But i cannot make it real for you…
    only HE CAN!

    Report Post »  
    • mrdbcooper
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:06pm

      The autopsy omitted the actual cause of death…SELF INFLICTED blunt force trauma…the best one was the cameraman who forgot his rig before getting on the plane…it was a wild video…

      Report Post » mrdbcooper  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:34pm

    I hate hearing of anyone committing suicide, I takes its toll on those left behind, asking why? sad!

    Report Post » flatbroke  
    • Divineliberty
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:45pm

      so sad so sad, pray for his family,…my only question is why did they need to do an autopsy to find out what killed him…duh!

      Report Post » Divineliberty  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:46pm

      He left nobody behind.

      Report Post »  
  • Manatajo
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:05pm

    You don’t need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

    Report Post »  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:18pm

      Lol

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • Your Name Here
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:20pm

      You don’t need a parachute to skydive, you need one to be a parachutist.

      This guy is giving the wrongf kind of attention to the sport.
      I had a friend that killed himself.
      We used to skydive together.
      He did it with a running car in the garage.
      If you want to kill yourself get help. If you‘re still going to do it don’t make a scene or a mess.
      Blue skies.

      Q: “What do Maxwell House coffee and skydivers have in common?”
      A: “They’re both good till the last drop.”

      Report Post » Your Name Here  
    • TXPilot
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:26pm

      It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the de-acceleration trauma at the end.

      Report Post » TXPilot  
  • bruce_baker
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:03pm

    I pray that he saw the light at the very last and regretted his sucide. That’s kinda weird, when you think about it: “I’m sorry I killed myself”. Most suicides don’t have that option, as by the time they might think that, it’s already over. This man might have actually had that thought. I hope so. Eternity is a long, long, long, long time.

    Report Post » bruce_baker  
    • C. Schwehr
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:13pm

      May he be at peace…I guess he just figured it was time for him to go home….We all die..he just picked a time of his own choosing.

      Report Post »  
    • holy ghostbuster
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:33pm

      At peace? He’s burning in hell right now for committing the sin of suicide.

      Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:56pm

      Let’s hope and pray God is more merciful than to damn us to hell for a single sin.
      I take it you are perfect?
      .

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:29pm

      He’s not at peace OR burning in hell. He just doesn’t exist anymore and has no awareness of anything. We’ll all face that fate. That‘s why I enjoy life while I have it instead of living with a stick up my a55 thinking i’ll be rewarded in heaven. lol.

      Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  
    • antiencenom
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:49pm

      No tommy Butt you probably are

      Report Post » antiencenom  
  • Witness1974
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:57pm

    All of you that are applauding the way this guy went out are assuming he is better off dead. That is, of course, the assumption of most people who commit suicide. They found his body, but where is his soul? He left the least significant part of himself behind. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that he is still alive and that perhaps his assumption was wrong.

    Report Post »  
    • avenger
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 6:07pm

      I think its obama’s fault..considering the state of the country.

      Report Post »  
  • Shawn4Liberty
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:52pm

    It’s not the fall that kills you, it’s that sudden stop.

    Report Post »  
  • billybe123
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:52pm

    He couldn’t take anymore of the Democrats and what there doing to this country. Poor guy

    Report Post » billybe123  
    • absolutely
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:08pm

      OR he was a demo and saw the writing on the wall. Absolutely

      Report Post »  
  • yiska8
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:50pm

    If this guy’s actions are economy related, I hope Barry will refrain from using it in his upcoming speech. Which will probably be in the next couple of hours. He’ll work it in somehow. Whatever this guy’s reason, for unbuckling his chute,I hope he finds forgiveness for taking his life and peace.

    Report Post » yiska8  
  • AlienEarthling
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:44pm

    If I was going to off myself, this would be the way to go!

    Report Post »  
  • Arminianism
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:44pm

    “An autopsy found he died of blunt-force trauma”

    Really? Shocker on that one

    Report Post » Arminianism  
    • billybe123
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:51pm

      lol thought the same thing. I could have told everyone that.

      Report Post » billybe123  
    • Salamander
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:02pm

      It‘s a good thing he didn’t fall on a fence, or a church steeple!

      Report Post »  
    • Secessionista
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 7:08pm

      Well, wouldn’t it be interesting if the autopsy found that he died of gunshot wounds? Or alcohol poisoning? Or perhaps a bad case of VD? You have to remember, these are government folks determining the cause of death – it is very unlikely that they get it right even half the time. Heck, he might even have died of altitude sickness, lol.

      Report Post » Secessionista  
  • Zorba53
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:32pm

    Uh=oh, I smell new Obozo regulations coming!

    Report Post »  
  • jakartaman
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:30pm

    Nobody knows what is going on in another mind.
    He went out on his own terms.
    RIP buddy!

    Report Post »  
    • lapua338shooter
      Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:52pm

      Sorry… I would find it real hard to watch the ground getting closer & closer, faster & faster. Maybe, if I had brought a bottle of Smirnoff 100 with me but, I don’t think I could drink it all before the ground came up to meet me…
      R.I.P. old timer.

      Report Post »  
  • Bonnieblue2A
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:26pm

    Now pilots for jumpers will have to be worried about “copycat” suicides.

    Report Post »  
  • Ookspay
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:20pm

    Huh…

    Report Post » Ookspay  
  • Haaryscary
    Posted on September 20, 2011 at 5:19pm

    Cool!!

    Haaryscary  
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