US News

Disneyland beefs up parking garage security after third suicide in past year

By
Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
Published Dec. 6, 2023, 3:14 p.m. ET

Disneyland is stepping up security at the California theme park’s multi-level parking garages following the third suicide from the structures in just the past year, according to reports.

The Anaheim-based park will increase car and bicycle security patrols and station guards atop the Pixar Pals and Mickey and Friends garages following the death of a man who leaped to his death from atop the Pixar structure on Nov. 15, the San Jose Mercury News reported Wednesday.

Jonah Alexander Edwards, 24, leaped to his death from the six-story structure around 9:30 p.m.

That tragedy followed other suicides at the garages in February and December 2022.

“In an effort to deter this type of tragedy, we have long had multilayered security protocols in place at our parking structures, which we have substantially enforced over time,” a Disneyland spokesman told MousePlanet.

“However, as with all of our security measures we don’t discuss specifics so as not to compromise our efforts,” the statement said.

Pixar Pals garage at Disneyland.
The Pixar Pals parking garage, under construction at Disneyland in 2019, is next to the 10,000-space Mickey and Friends garage, once the world’s largest. Three suicides have taken place there in the past year alone. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

The Mickey and Friends garage was the world’s largest when it opened with 10,000 spaces in 2000, according to Disneyland News Today, which said the Pixar lot opened in 2019 with 5,500 spaces.

There have been six deaths ruled as suicides from the garages since 2010.

In the two other recent incidents, a 46-year-old woman identified as Arizona mother and talented hairstylist Marney Schoenfeld plummeted to her death off the Mickey and Friends garage in February.

In December, a 51-year-old elementary school principal jumped to his death in an incident police deemed a suicide at the same garage, which was the world’s largest parking structure when it opened in 2000.

Pixar Pals parking garage.
The Pixar Pals parking garage at Disneyland opened with 5,500 spaces in 2019. At least one suicide took place there. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

The jumper was later identified as Christopher Christensen, 51, a former elementary school principal who was facing child endangerment and battery charges.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.