Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon

[Werner Presber]

"Hawaii is where men from California bring their broken hearts,  
seeking exotic forms of self-injury not so readily available on the  
mainland. Some specialize in active volcanoes, others in cliff  
diving, many go for the classier swimming-out-to-sea option. I can  
put you onto several travel agents who offer Suicide Fantasy  
packages, if you're interested." Vineland, Page 60

„Meanwhile, he came across a map of Hawaii in a library. He pored  
over it, dreaming of himself in an island paradise.
In January 1977, Chapman boarded a plane to Honolulu. He would use  
his savings -- $1,200 -- for a one-way airline ticket and a final  
splurge in paradise.

Then he would kill himself.

For five days, Mark David Chapman lived the life of a wealthy  
tourist. He checked into the Moana Hotel, drank mai tais at its bar,  
sunned himself on the beaches and cruised the islands.

Life in paradise was good too good to end so soon. He moved to a  
cheap room at the YMCA to make his money last. And he got to thinking  
about home.He called Jessica, his ex-fiancee. He told her he had  
planned his death but had regained his desire to live. He pleaded  
with her to tell him she still loved him and he should come home.  
Jessica, fearing she would be responsible for his suicide, told him,  
"Just come home."

He bought another one-way ticket (going to Atlanta), only to discover  
Jessica had acted out of pity. He got into an argument with his  
parents and moved briefly to a hotel. Then he used the last of his  
savings for his third one-way ticket (going to Hawaii again). It was  
May 1977.

Drinking heavily, he lived at the Y when he had money from some low- 
paying job. Otherwise, he lived on the streets. The euphoria he had  
felt on his first visit gave way to hopelessness. He spent hours on  
the phone with suicide hot lines.

Finally, with the last of his money, he bought a dinner of steak and  
beer, rented a car and bought a vacuum cleaner hose. He drove to a  
deserted beach. There he shoved one end of the hose into the car's  
tailpipe, put the other end in the car and closed the windows. With  
the motor running, he closed his eyes and slipped into unconsciousness.

He awoke, groggy but, amazingly, alive. A Japanese fisherman was  
tapping on the window to make sure he was all right. He found that  
the plastic vacuum cleaner hose had melted in the exhaust pipe.“

Text via Mark David Chapman, the man who killed John Lennon
		
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