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Man Commits Suicide on Gibson Property

By STEVE GORMAN, Reuters
Posted: 2008-03-20 18:08:20
Filed Under: Movie News
LOS ANGELES (March 20) - Authorities on Thursday were investigating the apparent suicide of a construction worker found hanged inside a house being built on a piece of property owned by Oscar-winner Mel Gibson.

The victim was found Wednesday morning by the foreman of the job site, located in the Agoura Hills area northwest of Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detective Eddie Brown, who is conducting the investigation.

County property tax records show the nearly 9-acre parcel of land is owned by Gibson, 52, through his Millicent Trust. And according to the celebrity news Web site TMZ.com, which broke the story, the site is less than a mile from the Holy Family Catholic Church founded by Gibson, whose daughter was married there in 2006.

Neither of the two buildings at the site are occupied, and sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said, "there's absolutely no indication that Mel Gibson ... was even aware of the incident."

A spokesman for "The Passion of the Christ" director said neither Gibson nor family members have ever resided at the address but declined to comment otherwise.

TMZ quotes one of the actor's reps as saying he feels "terrible" about the incident.

Brown said the death appeared to be a suicide, but the official cause of death will be determined by the coroner.

Agoura Hills, CA

The victim was identified as Michael John Van Dyke, 48, of Bonsall, California, who TMZ.com reported had worked as a construction foreman on a number of movie sets, including "The Matrix Reloaded" and "Doctor Dolittle."

A spokesman for the coroner's office said Van Dyke was a friend of a contractor at the job site where he was found.

Gibson won Academy Awards in 1996 for his work as director and producer on the historical drama "Braveheart," in which he also starred.

Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-03-20 11:28:59
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1 - 10 of 296
296 comments

Frpass 05:55:15 AM Mar 25 2008

its always women that causes this he probably was in love and she refused him so he couldnt live without her.....

upprintx1 10:18:31 PM Mar 21 2008

The Big Question has to be? WTF was he doing hanging around there anyway?
He should have found a place with the floor closer to his feet and he would have survived. A construction worker should know better than that. Gotta plan ahead!
That's why they also use Bungee cords so as to prevent this type of Fatal Injury!

krzykra 07:15:37 PM Mar 21 2008

HE IS RISEN..........

------ GOD

jbond1038nc18 03:55:58 PM Mar 21 2008

Too bad it wasn't Mel.

ungles 02:37:50 PM Mar 21 2008

How depressing and sad. It makes me wonder, what in this man's life was so bad that it drove him to kill himself? To those who would make fun of something so serious, I suggest that you grow up or seek help.

ShrlF8 12:56:52 PM Mar 21 2008

well drmushm must be a stuipd person to say something like that . and i agree with piknowies at less he didn't mind doing it alone. at less he didn't hide be hind his belief and take innocent people out with him. in the name of god or what the other world calls their salvoir .an you should see passion of christ maybe it would help people not to hurt people that are different then them.

stevegulas 12:30:34 PM Mar 21 2008

Barbara Bush should have been sterilized before she met poppy.

sadeyes1523 11:53:50 AM Mar 21 2008

some of u ppl come up with most stupidiest remarks it shamless its so freakin stupid i cant believe a humand mind would go there u ppl need help badly so log-of ur computer and get help fast

oldkey902 11:44:33 AM Mar 21 2008

RBrutoco: The catholic was not founded by jesus christ!!! It was fuonded by a bunch of wops with beanies.

drmushm 10:26:39 AM Mar 21 2008

All religions are a bunch a bunk, which drives people insane, and causes them to commit the most horrendos dispicable evil crimes against humanity.

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