Michael Marin was the very image of a powerhouse lawyer: a Yale Law School graduate who went on to find success as a Wall Street trader who climbed Mount Everest, collected valuable art works and supported charities. The bon vivant seemed to be living the life of legend until he was charged with burning down his own Biltmore Estates mansion in Arizona. Shortly after being convicted of arson in court, Marin was seen putting something in his mouth. He promptly collapsed and died.
The terrible scene was the end of a bizarre downward spiral that prosecutors insist was caused by Marin’s growing debts. Marin was in the news when he made a remarkable escape from his burning mansion by donning scuba gear to avoid smoke inhalation and climbing down a rope ladder. Investigators were suspicious and eventually accused him of setting numerous fires before setting up the daring exit.
Marin denied that allegations and insisted “One, you don’t set fire to something that you’re in and then go trap yourself upstairs to make a more dramatic exit. The second thing, if you bore into my finances, this was the worst thing that could have happened to me. Not only did I not have any incentive personally, I totally had a counter-incentive. The Phoenix Fire Department people will figure out what they figure out.”
The fire destroyed the 10,766 square foot property, including a four-car garage and about 6,600 square feet of living space. Marin, 53, was the father of four and grandfather of two (with a third on the way).
Marin often discussed his adventures in jungles and mountains, saying “I’m very calm under pressure, and I’ve certainly been tested in that way.” Marin often discussed how he scaled six of the world’s seven tallest mountains. He also was an art collector who had original Picassos.
He certainly showed remarkable composure in the process of poisoning himself — hiding the fact of his poisoning to the last minute.
It is a remarkably sad end to someone who had obvious talent and success in life. His finances had clearly evaporated. In 2008, he had $900,000 in the bank. A year later he had only $50 left in the account with a monthly mortgage payment on the mansion of $17,250 and an upcoming balloon payment of $2.3 million. He also owed another $2,500 a month on a different home — bringing the total to roughly $20,000 a month just in mortgage with another $34,000 owed in taxes.
The fire investigator was suspicious by how readily available the scuba equipment was at the time of the fire.
Here is the video of the courtroom scene:
Source: ABC
BK and Darren, one of the things that gives me pause is that that it could have been me in the right seat of #123 at the 0:23 mark. One reason my friend badgered me to go is that I am a high time instrument rated multi-engine pilot. They were short pilots and flight engineers at that time. I would have been a rookie, and as such would have flown as co-pilot (aka First Officer), or possibly flight engineer. The reason #123 went down was the old wing spar had overstressed. Turns out it had some small cracks in the wing spar that had gone undetected on inspection. Diving in and out of canyons with a 2,000 gallon payload puts a lot of stress and strain on the equipment. We lost another tanker in western Utah on June 3 when they snagged a wingtip on a ridge and cartwheeled in. Kudos to those crews, and so lift your glass to their bravery and skill.
Darren, thanks. I see the differences – there are many.
Darren, A private glider license doesn’t require a medical. You’re on your honor. I think one is required for a commercial or instructor. Just be honest with yourself about your abilities and your reaction times.
My first interest in flying was when I was high school trying to figure out how to get a college education. Of course there were lots of recruiting posters around. I considered the Air Force and the Navy. I thought that flying off of an aircraft carrier was about the greatest thing I could do. At the time women were intended to be barefoot and pregnant or a secretary. There was no way they were going to let me fly one of their planes. Probably just as well. At some point I’d have figured out that those planes carried bombs and killed people. Besides, I don’t take orders very well. It was about a decade later that I spent time at the airfield and managed a number of rear seat rides in a TG-2 glider. I was the preferred rider because I didn’t get sick and I didn’t need to fly. On one long cross-country we watched a plane “bombing” a fire. Mixed reaction – glad the fire is out but sad a good source of lift was gone. My now ex- flew but he gave me absolutely no encouragement to do so. He went on vacation for a week without me when the weather was great. I didn’t mean to be sneaky, well, yes, I did, but I didn’t see any need for a fight if I found that I would be satisfied by just riding and letting someone else do the flying. We had a rather intense discussion when he got home.
Betty:
The aircraft is a P4Y-2 Privateer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PB4Y-2_Privateer
OS, OMG. Lost an airplane and an entire crew. That has to be dangerous flying – close to fire, heavy load, squirrely turbulence. . Why did the wing spar break? It looks a lot like a B29 I saw a few years ago but I didn’t think they were used for fighting fires. If I remember correctly, corroded spars grounded B29s, or maybe it was another plane. Details get lost. What kind of plane was it? No one sings a sad song quite like the Irish.
BettyKath, Otteray:
Nice video and nothing like a good old Irish type folk song to sip a whiskey to. Looks like the tradgedy happened so fast, nothing could be done.
I last flew a month ago, but despite all the time I put in I never got a pilot’s license. Yes, one of the regrets in my life. I was in Civil Air Patrol from when I was 12 until I turned 16 whereupon I became a cadet with the Sheriff’s Office and flying took a back seat. I had enough friends who could fly so, bad excuse. I thougth I would get the license but then Dr. Parkinson paid me a visit so I don’t know if I will pass the medical. My symptoms have almost completely subsided, but I don’t know.
I know what you both are saying about old air craft and regretting not as you said Ottary hopping aboard. Around 1984-85 a friend called me saying an improptu air show just started up at Pangborn Field (EAT) So we drove over there and to our supreme delight some air club flew in a WWII Flying Fortress and a Liberator. The commander for our C.A.P. squadron flew B-17s over Europe and told us about it, now we got to see it for real inside and everything. I sat in the gunners’ positions and the pilots seat. They later took off and made several passes. One time they came over Badger Mountain and dropped down hugging the cliff and the foothills, approaching the Airport. I tell you, when I heard those thunderous engines of both aircraft rumbling down upon us at very low altitude it actually made the hair on my neck stand up. It didn’t get any cooler than that my friends. After they landed, and returned back to us, they offered me and my friend a ride to Boeing Field for a $125.00 donation. Like a FOOL I didn’t take them up because at 16 that was two week’s pay. Regretted it ever since. So I know exactly what you said Ottary about going up with the Tankers.
The other regret? I had the opportunity to hop aboard a full size replica of the HMS Bounty and sail from Fiji to Pitcairn Island, with the choice of working some of the jobs that sailors back then did such as rigging, manning the posts or whatever interested me. Could you imagine the experience of being on a sailing vessel in the South Pacific on a clear moonless night, hearing only the occasional wave and the creaking of ropes and planks? Like travelling back 200 years. We would then spend a few days with the Pitcairners before sailing back. I could do this for $3,500 plus airfare to Fiji. But like a COMPLETE and TOTAL FOOL I was again cheap and didn’t do it. And, yes regretted it ever since.
I’d say this was a bit off topic, I guess we all here are fortunate to have the ability to remember what we did do, or what we can maybe later. Better to be alive I suppose.
OS,
I did pretty well in Stats in college, but I don’t remember a thing! 🙂
Here is a still shot of Tanker 123 just after the left wing spar broke.
http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt256/otteraylens/63e939b0.jpg
BK & Darren,
I took my first flying lesson when I was in the 10th grade. I am pleased to say my flying career consists of an exactly equal number of takeoffs and landings.
An aside, we lost the second air tanker of the fire season yesterday afternoon. It was a C-130. A very dear friend of mine used to be the chief pilot for the State Forestry Department. Every year he would go out west to help with the firefighting. He badgered me to go for several years, but my family threw a fit and did not want me to go. As I think about it, I sometimes wonder if I should have gone. Flying an air tanker in close support of the Hotshots on the ground is as dangerous as flying close air support of ground troops in combat. And as rewarding. It is not just a job.
Let me share a tune with you. As far as I know, this is the only folk song ever written in tribute to the brave crews who fly the tankers. PS: This is a two-Kleenex video.
Darren, You were flying before driving, terrific!! Our flying experiences are similar but I was in my 20’s before I realized that all that bs so subtly communicated about it being for the guys was, well, bs. I loved the glider, the j3 cub, the Citabria. I loved the Stearman/PT17 but I mostly rode and flew a few loops after we were in the air. (I didn’t want to pick up the tab for a ground loop). I had some time in a couple of other WWII vintage a/c and a twin but never got checked out. The a-b flying really didn’t interest me although I did some of it. Now parachute jumping – ya’all are nuts! I considered it and chickened out. I’d probably enjoy it if they could push me out the door. I suppose I could put it on my bucket list – waaaay down at the bottom. Do you still fly?
yes, thank you leejcaroll!, you too….I don’t even wish the nasties on a rat….
Otteray:
I know what you are saying about pilots. I flew in small aircraft (Mostly Cessnas, a Piper Cub or two and a glider) since I was 12 years old. Oddly, with a pilot with me I took off and landed a 152 before I drove a car on my own. So I was used to aircraft heights. When I was in my 20’s I parachuted for the first time. Everything was going fine, even when I unzipped the door and looked out. Stepping out into the strut’s footpad: Now that was pure fear. But, it went away eventually and I let go. Kind of peaceful once the chute opens, the wind rush goes away and it is quiet and serene.
Leejcaroll: I’m very pleased and glad you made it through such a harrowing ordeal. In reading about this condition, I am glad that I cannot imagine such a horror. The thought of it seems too much to bear.
This is beyond words.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/07/02/mullen-18-veterans-kill-themselves-every-day-in-the-u-s/
Wootsy sure hope you stay away from them there critters.
leejcaroll
1, July 2, 2012 at 6:57 pm
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T. gondii infections have the ability to change the behavior of rats and mice, making them drawn to, rather than fearful of, the scent of cats. This effect is advantageous to the parasite, which will be able to sexually reproduce if its host is eaten by a cat.[12] –
well there ya go….Zombies in a nutshell…
Back OT, I think this is a guy who got lost. He was living the high life for some number of years and then suffered several setbacks that he had no skills nor energy to handle. He needed someone he trusted to help guide him out. Given his previous successes, he had an image of self-sufficiency and a record of risk-taking. These led to his hair-brained idea of getting rid of his albatross of a house and collecting the insurance. When this failed, he saw no way out.
bettykath
i don’t care for balconies either, but i’ll fly every chance i get.
insofar as suicides go i know someone who had someone very close to them commit suicide. i consider it to be a very selfish way out but i’m not exactly what you’d call a depressed person.
Malisha ((**_*))
Interesting story http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/07/02/156142214/a-parasite-carried-by-cats-could-hurt-humans-sanity?ft=1&f=1128&sc=tw
A Parasite Carried By Cats Could Increase Suicide Risk (overblown title but nevertheless interesting)
Otteray,
“The Marine aviator refused to go out there. That is not at all unusual behavior among the pilot community. I have no idea why.”
The sensation from a plane is very different from a land-based height. When you’re flying a plane, your reference is the plane. I used to fly and never had a problem with vertigo even though the plane was frequently in an “unusual” attitude. I don’t like heights. It takes a great deal of concentration for me to not “lose it” when on a high ladder, next (and never really “too next”) to a cliff, or a high balcony (I probably wouldn’t go there if it was above the second floor and even then I wouldn’t go near the railing).