Cartoonist, 62, Jumps From Chelsea High-Rise Apartment To His Death
After the March 5 incident, Jon Medwick’s loved ones told the authorities that he had suffered from depression. At around 5:45 a.m., he had reportedly flung himself from his pad on the 15th floor of 300 West 23rd Street. His girlfriend told police officers that she had tried to stop him.
| 12 Mar 2024 | 11:49
On March 5, 62 year-old John Medwick reportedly jumped out of his 15th-story apartment at 300 West 23rd Street. (
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A 62 year-old man apparently committed suicide in the Chelsea neighborhood on March 5.
According to the NYPD, Jon Medwick had been lingering by the window of his 300 West 23rd Street apartment at around 5:45 a.m., clearly preparing to jump. He lived on the 15th floor of the building, a co-op whee he had served on its board.
His 45-year-old girlfriend, who resided with him, told the authorities that she had realized what he was doing when she woke up. She also said that she had tried–and failed–to yank him away from the window, and that he had managed to fling himself to his death. Police told Chelsea News that they had arrived at the scene around 5:47 a.m., only to discover Medwick dead on the pavement.
The NYPD currently suspects no foul play. Medwick’s girlfriend was reportedly so distressed that she was taken to a hospital to receive care.
Medwick was a cartoonist that also did reportedly some freelance copywriting work. A visit to a business website advertising his work reveals a clever preoccupation of his: “Cariacatoons,” or “humorous illustrations of...anyone you would like to celebrate with a fun likeness of them in a comical environment.” He encouraged interested parties to simply send him a photo of their desired subject, which he then would transform into a vibrant and memorable tableau for $150.
The death only adds to a recent spate of other probable suicides deaths in Manhattan. On May 3, 2023, a 31 year-old Google engineer named Kevin Rawlings reportedly flung himself off the company’s Chelsea headquarters, police say.
Last November, a 47 year-old was discovered dead on the pavement on front of an E. 81st St. apartment building, with injuries consistent from a fall. Police have ruled out any suspicious motives in that instance, as well.
On Dec. 16, a 35 year-old mother of two named Alina Page reportedly flung herself from a luxury high-rise on York Ave.
On Dec. 27, a 56 year-old real-estate broker named Thomas Cooper reportedly jumped out of a window of his apartment on E. 87th St. Police say that Cooper, who worked at Douglas Elliman and had once served on the board of the Greenwich Village Preservation Society, had left a suicide note.
NYU also saw two mysterious and sudden deaths in the span of two days last month, although whether they were self-inflicted is still undetermined. On Feb. 8, 19 year-old Jacqueline Beauzile was found dead in her room at Lipton Hall, a freshman dormitory. On Feb. 10, 18 year-old Doreah Salti possibly jumped to her death from a fifth-floor art building, although her family is reportedly waiting for a medical examiner’s investigation to wrap up before accepting any suicidal motive.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or needs mental health support, you can call 1-888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. You can also dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988, or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org if you live outside NYC.