Matthew Cohn, 28, an aspiring National Football League referee, died last Thursday after jumping from a balcony at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Orlando, Florida, the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed.
Cohn’s death marks the third at Disney properties in just two weeks, after a woman at the same hotel and a man at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground both took their own lives, according to the Daily Mail.
Documented NFL referee journey on social media
Cohn had shared his excitement about starting a new career as a football official on social media. His Instagram account featured photos of him in referee uniforms and included a link to an article about becoming an NFL official, the New York Post reports.
Earlier in May 2024, Cohn reportedly announced that he had signed an offer to officiate Division II college football games. His social media also indicated he lived in Nashville, Tennessee, with a motivational quote in his bio: “I am, so I will!”
Credit: Matthew Cohn / Instagram.
Heartbreaking final post
Pictures on Cohn's Instagram show him wearing his referee uniform, captioned with the hashtag “PathToNFL.” In his final post in September 2024, Cohn captioned an image of him blowing a whistle with: “Big-time players, make big-time plays."
His Instagram account has now been made private.
At the time of his death, Cohn was living in Winter Garden, a suburban city near Orlando. According to reports, he checked into the Contemporary Resort, paid for his room in cash, and jumped from the 12th floor, suffering multiple traumatic injuries.
Previous Disney World suicide incidents
Cohn’s death follows that of Summer Equitz, 31, who also died by suicide at the Contemporary Resort on October 14. Equitz had recently given birth to a baby daughter and was believed to be struggling with postpartum depression. She had traveled to Disney World from Naperville, Illinois, without informing family members, The Sun reports.
Equitz’s LinkedIn profile noted her work as a nanny and former Disneyland Resort employee, where she performed as a character and entertainment host from 2012 to 2015. She had celebrated her honeymoon at Disney World and shared images at the park, including a photo with Disney CEO Bob Iger, captioned: “My life has peaked.”
Credit: Summer Equitz / Facebook.
Earlier this month, a man in his 60s died after a medical emergency at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, per Deadline. His wife reportedly found him unconscious in their room, and he was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Authorities confirmed there were no signs of foul play.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office has addressed rumors surrounding these incidents and confirmed that there is no indication of foul play in Cohn’s or the other recent deaths at Disney properties.
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