John Curtis Suicide? Former Florida Safety Dead At 24

Former Florida Gators safety John Curtis is dead, OnlyGators.com reports. He was 24 years old. According to the web site, Curtis's death is thought to be a suicide.

Joe Haden, the seventh overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft and a fellow former member of the Gators secondary, wrote a farewell note to Curtis on Twitter: "U never know how much u truly love someone until they r gone!! R.I.P John Curtis #24! U will be missed!!!! #lifeis2short!," the Cleveland Brown tweeted.

Dee Webb, another ex-Gator who currently plays Arena football in Jacksonville, tweeted about the reported death as well: "R.I.P to my former teammate JOHN CURTIS 24......we go miss u hommie..."

Curtis played special teams for Florida in 2006, when they won a national championship. In 2008, Curtis tore his ACL and never played college football again.

More to come...

U never know how much u truly love someone until they r gone!! R.I.P John Curtis #24! U will be missed!!!! #lifeis2short!less than a minute ago via mobile webJoe Haden
joehaden23

R.I.P to my former teammate JOHN CURTIS 24......we go miss u hommie...less than a minute ago via Twitstat Mobiledee webb
deewebb5

Comments

[kapalabhati]

12:55 PM on 08/09/2010

Boy, nothing says love like a Tweet. Ugh.

[Andrew FingerlickingGree]

10:45 PM on 08/07/2010

Darn, another young athlete gone too soon. Hope he finds happiness and is at peace.

[CaliTLC]

10:26 PM on 08/07/2010

Gosh. Only 24 years old. Very sad. Condolences.

[bgofca]

09:56 PM on 08/07/2010

sorry that he felt life was so bad that he needed to kill himself. Now there is no opportunity to make his life any better. Depression is a sad illness and unfortunately, not everyone gets the help they need.

[BubbaNH]

08:02 PM on 08/07/2010

To An Athlete Dying Young: (AE Housman)

"To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town."

RIP, Gator...

[acellist1]

05:20 PM on 08/07/2010

This Florida grad is very sad to hear this news.

[chopel]

03:32 PM on 08/07/2010

My condolences to all who knew John.

.

HP should update the headline. The suicide was confirmed yesterday.

[chopel]

03:27 PM on 08/07/2010

Sad news, indeed.

news reports:

Man jumps to death at Lincoln Square

A 24-year-old man leapt to his death at Lincoln Square Center in Bellevue this morning.
Multiple Police Officers arrived to the corner of N.E. 7th and Bellevue Way N.E. at 8 a.m., this morning in response to reports of a male sitting on the railing above Earls Restaurant. Officers' briefly contacted the subject but he jumped from the fourth floor railing of Lincoln Square to his death. According to Bellevue Police, the apparent suicide will be thoroughly investigated."
[By BELLEVUE REPORTER, Seattle PI http://blog.seattlepi.com/bellevue-pi/archives/217158.asp ]

Former Florida safety dies of suicide

[AP] SEATTLE -- The King County Medical Examiner's Office says that former Florida safety John Curtis IV has died due to injuries caused by suicide. The medical examiner's office confirmed Friday that Curtis died on Thursday morning in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue with severe injuries to his head and torso. He was 24 and a native of Cocoa Beach, Fla.

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_fbc_florida_curtis.html

[susan166]

05:22 PM on 08/06/2010

RIP, This weekend, Sarah Johnson and others who are accompanying their efforts will host a chicken barbecue and bake sale this Saturday at the American Legion in Oxford, which they hope will help raise the remaining money needed for project. John Curtis

http://usspost.com/john-curtis-14302/

[SweeneyToad]

08:44 PM on 08/06/2010

Not sure that is the same guy...

[TechGuy036]

05:00 PM on 08/06/2010

R. I. P., son. My thoughts go out to his family.

[crowsnest]

04:51 PM on 08/06/2010

RIP Prayers out to his family and friends.

[danusgram]

01:16 PM on 08/06/2010

This is so sad there needs to be other role models for the kids to see that having a sports career is not the end all...so sorry for this kid.

[mp60mp32]

12:57 PM on 08/06/2010

Real sad. I wish his family the best during this time.

[FLVolFan]

12:23 PM on 08/06/2010

Wow, what a terribly sad story.

This Tennessee fan is thinking about the Gator Nation today. No one that young should die like this.

[Linda Robinson]

12:16 PM on 08/06/2010

This is a terribly sad story. Perhaps colleges should learn from this and put more emphasis on education instead of sports. Very few make it to professional sports - college athletes need another alternative so all isn't lost if their sports career doesn't work out.

[davidariley]

04:53 PM on 08/06/2010

as if educated people don't commit suicide?

[RobAZ]

05:41 PM on 08/06/2010

did he lose his scholarship after the injury?

[progressiveguy100]

10:43 PM on 08/06/2010

True. To many sad endings like this.