Murder, Suicide, and Bizzare Incidents at The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon’s majestic beauty attracts over 4.9 million annual visitors, all people eager to soak in the magical landscape, breathtaking views, and raw nature found within the Canyon’s 277 miles. Little do most visitors know, The Grand Canyon has a rather dark history filled with bizarre incidents, ghosts, and even mysterious deaths, tragedies, and murders.

Read more about ghosts and legends in the Canyon in this blog post:

About 900 people have died in the Grand Canyon since its foundation in 1860. The majority of those deaths occurred from airplane and aircraft accidents. Other deaths have occurred as the result of slip-and-fall accidents, suicide, environmental factors, and even murder, some of which incidents we’ll uncover in this post.

Death From a Lack of Respect

Inside The Grand Canyon are a series of cliffs, old rocks, and treacherous terrains spiraling 18 miles down into the Colorado River. One wrong move or slip of the food could lead to death and a horrific end. Respecting the Canyon and its complexity is of utmost importance.

Greg Austin Gingrich did not respect the Canyon and paid for that decision with his life.

When Greg and his daughter hiked the Canyon in 1992, the funny man decided to prank his daughter. He pretended to lose his balance and fall to his death, although his plan was to catch himself on a small rock underneath the area they hiked.

Except, the small rock was not as close as Greg anticipated, and when he attempted to slip onto it, he fell 400 feet to his death.

Greg Austin Gingrich did not respect nature when he visited the Canyon with his daughter in 1992, leading to his death.

Greg thought he’d prank his daughter by pretending to lose his balance and “fall” down to a small rock underneath the area where the pair stood. He underestimated the distance to the rock below and fell 400 feet to his death as his stunned daughter watched in horror.

Newlywed Couple Disappeared From The Canyon

From 2018 until February 2023, 56 people disappeared from The Grand Canyon and another six died of various causes. That reflects the average yearly number of disappearances from the national park. A couple named Glen & Bessie Hyde were among the first people to ever disappear from the Canyon.

In 1928, the newlyweds set sail for an adventurous honeymoon in the Canyon. She hoped to set a new record as the first woman to raft the entire length of the Canyon. Who better to make dreams come true with than the man she planned to spend her life with?

Sadly, Glen and Bessie never made it to the other side of the canyon. Their raft was found just 43 miles from their intended destination. Their personal effects were inside the boat, but Glen and Bessie were nowhere to be found.

Despite extensive searches, no one ever located the newlyweds o or their bodies, leaving many unanswered questions as a mystery.

Murder in the Canyon

For a murderous mind, a national park like The Grand Canyon is the perfect place to take a life and get away with the crime. Making a murder appear as an accident seems all too simple. People slip and fall every day, after all.

Robert Spangler thought he could get away with his third wife’s murder by pushing her off a cliff in The Grand Canyon. He was wrong.

Married to aerobics instructor Donna Sundling, Robert decided the best way to get out of the marriage was by killing her. On April 11, 1993, he took his wife hiking in the Grand Canyon where he pushed her off a 140-foot cliff.

Murder was not a new act for Robert, who in 1978, killed his wife Nancy and two kids in their Denver home. He arranged the scene to make it appear as a murder-suicide and no one suspected otherwise.

Police did not learn the truth until Robert confessed to shooting Nancy and smothering their two teenage children to death after his arrest for Donna’s murder.

He was sentenced to life in prison and died in 2001 while awaiting trial for the murder of his first wife and two kids.

Canyon Suicides

Over the years, numerous people have chosen to end their lives by plunging from the canyon’s ledges to end their lives. An estimated 91 suicides have occurred at the canyon since its inception.

One tragic tale of attempted suicide that ended in death is the story of Patricia Astolfo, who acted out her own version of Thelma and Louise.

In 1984, the 36-year-old drove her vehicle off the rim of the Grand Canyon. She loved the movie, Thelma and Louise, as evidenced by the dozens and dozens of times she watched the VHS, and wanted to replicate the character's fate.

The vehicle’s suspension caught on a rock as she drove off the rim, preventing it from falling to the bottom. Once she had been rescued, Patricia, still determined to end her life, ran full speed toward the edge of the cliff. Again, she didn’t die, instead landing on a boulder 20 feet below. Though bruised and bloodied, Patricia was still alive.

As she attempted to crawl back up the cliff, Patrica’s hand slipped, causing her to slip off the cliff and plunge to her death.

Suicide is never the answer. If you live in the U.S. and have thoughts of suicide, next 988 from your smartphone for free, confidential help 24/7.