Medical Examiner rules mysterious courtroom death a suicide

July 27, 2012

The autopsy of a former Wall Street trader who mysteriously collapsed in court and later died was released Friday. 

It all began in 2009 when Michael Marin emerged from his burning Phoenix-area mansion in scuba gear. He was charged with arson for torching the home. Prosecutors say Marin decided to burn his house down after he got behind on mortgage payments.

After being found guilty at a June hearing, Marin put his head in his hands and appeared to put something in his mouth, then take a drink from a sports bottle. He collapsed in the courtroom and later died.

The Maricopa County medical examiner’s office said in a report Friday toxicology tests reveal Marin killed himself by taking cyanide. He faced up to 21 years in prison.