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Electrician's Fatal Fall From Wilshire Grand Tower Ruled A Suicide
An electrician who fell to his death from the 53rd floor of the Los Angeles Wilshire Grand last week has been ruled a suicide, according to the county coroner's office.
The coroner earlier said that it was investigating the possibility that Joseph Sabbatino, a 36-year-old from Palmdale, jumped. Cal/OSHA had determined that "no fall-protection violations were observed." Turner Construction, which was managing the site, said that Sabbatino had no reason to be above the third floor.
Witnesses told the Los Angeles Times that Sabbatino had removed his hard hat before the fall, and that he wasn't wearing a tethered safety harness. It was only his second day of the job, and he had undergone safety training just the day before.
Sabbatino had been suffering from depression and had been prescribed medicine, his father Vance Sabbatino told KABC (via the Associated Press). Sabbatino lived in the Antelope Valley, and he had previously been employed as a real estate agent with Re/Max All-Pro in December. His profile proclaimed his sincerity, effectiveness, determination and creativity. He had long been interested in the construction side of real estate: "Wanting to expand my knowledge in other aspects, in 1999 I moved to the Antelope Valley and pursued construction where I learned about framing, electrical, and HVAC which continued to enhance my insight in real estate."
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Sabbatino landed on the trunk of Donna Crockett. She told KTLA, "It's really taken a toll on me, because right now, I'm not strong and right now I am hurting. It was traumatic, it something that I never thought I would have to see."
If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide: do not leave the person alone, remove any firearms, alcohol, drugs or sharp objects that could be used in a suicide attempt, and call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or take the person to an emergency room or seek help from a medical or mental health professional.
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