The Ohio University employee who threatened to jump from both Baker University Center and the city parking garage committed suicide yesterday morning.
Marc Kidby, 30, was pronounced dead yesterday morning at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington, W. Va., after shooting himself twice. A helicopter flew Kidby to the hospital from his home on Stone Castle Road around 8:50 a.m., according to a news release from the Athens County Sheriff's Office.
Ohio University Police Department Lt. Steve Noftz persuaded Kidby not to jump from the fifth floor of Baker University Center on Feb. 8. Less than two weeks later, Kidby threatened to jump from the top of the city parking garage.
Sheriff's deputies arrived at Kidby's house at about 7:40 a.m. yesterday after a 911 caller said Kidby had contacted him or her to say Kidby had shot himself and wanted to say goodbye
said Chief Deputy Dave Malawista of the Athens County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies forced their way into Kidby's house, where they found he had shot himself a second time, Malawista said. Kidby was unconscious but alive when the deputies found him.
Paramedics stabilized him as best they could before the helicopter arrived at a landing zone outside the house, Malawista said. The Albany Fire Department closed part of Stone Castle Road, which is between Athens and Albany, so the helicopter could land safely.
Kidby had a concealed carry license for the .380-caliber handgun he shot himself with, Malawista said. Deputies revoked Kidby's license after he shot himself, but before he died.
Deputies approached Kidby's house with caution, concerned he might attack police with his pistol and force officers to shoot him in a suicide by cop Malawista said. Of the law enforcement officers at the house, three had completed Crisis Intervention Team Training, two of whom were instructors for the training.
One of those instructors was Noftz, who was asked to accompany sheriff's deputies because of his relationship with Kidby, Malawista said. Noftz talked Kidby down from the fifth-floor railing inside Baker University Center when he first threatened suicide in February.
Noftz said he viewed the day's events as a sobering loss for everyone involved.
I lost a friend today and that's where it stands
he said. Everyone that knew him is grieving the loss.
Kidby's death represents a loss for the whole university, said Sally Linder, senior director of media relations at OU. Kidby had returned to work at OU's Office of Research and Sponsored Programs following the first two threatened suicides. He was also a 2003 OU graduate with a bachelor's degree in legal communications.
We are always so sorry to lose any member of our community under any circumstances
and our hearts certainly go out to his family and friends
Linder said.
At work, Kidby was known for his dependability and positive approach to problem solving, said Shane Gilkey, assistant vice president for Research and Sponsored Programs.
He always looked upon challenges in a positive way
Gilkey said. He was a good guy to have in the office. He was just dependable and a good guy to have working here.
Kidby's family declined to comment.
' Emilie Schneider contributed to this report
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