fignewton
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I recently came across a case from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in 1984 that has almost completely faded from public memory. It’s one of the strangest teen suicide clusters I’ve ever read about.
In August of that year, two 17-year-old boys, Daniel Landis and Marc Ferdock, left their homes late at night after taking LSD. They drove to a remote quarry or cliff area, handcuffed themselves together, and jumped. Before jumpking, they said goodbye to friends and family on a tape recorder. The recorder kept going as they jumped. Weeks later, Marc's girlfriend killed herself by suicide. She shot herself in the heart.
The case raised serious questions about suicide contagion, drug use, and group psychology. Yet it never gained significant attention outside the local area, and documentation today is surprisingly scarce. Aside from archived newspaper coverage and one magazine article, there is very little public discussion, and almost no photos appear to be available.
I’m curious if anyone has:
Newspaper archives from Bucks County in 1984
More information about the tape recording
Any insight into whether police still retain the recording
Or additional reporting about the friend group after the third death
Photos of the teens
Opinions and discussion on the case.
Source (background reading):
www.phillymag.com
In August of that year, two 17-year-old boys, Daniel Landis and Marc Ferdock, left their homes late at night after taking LSD. They drove to a remote quarry or cliff area, handcuffed themselves together, and jumped. Before jumpking, they said goodbye to friends and family on a tape recorder. The recorder kept going as they jumped. Weeks later, Marc's girlfriend killed herself by suicide. She shot herself in the heart.
The case raised serious questions about suicide contagion, drug use, and group psychology. Yet it never gained significant attention outside the local area, and documentation today is surprisingly scarce. Aside from archived newspaper coverage and one magazine article, there is very little public discussion, and almost no photos appear to be available.
I’m curious if anyone has:
Newspaper archives from Bucks County in 1984
More information about the tape recording
Any insight into whether police still retain the recording
Or additional reporting about the friend group after the third death
Photos of the teens
Opinions and discussion on the case.
Source (background reading):
Over the Edge
When two Bucks County teenagers leaped to their deaths from a quarry cliff in 1983, they left a quiet suburban community in shock.
www.phillymag.com
