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Ghost hunter killed in fall from building
Edmonton Sun ^ | September 11, 2009 | Don Peat and Tom Godfrey

Posted on 09/11/2009 5:36:20 AM PDT by Loyalist

TORONTO -- A first date with a playful, late-night search for ghosts inside a University of Toronto landmark ended in tragedy yesterday when a 29-year-old woman plunged to her death.

Leah Kubik, just two weeks shy of her 30th birthday, was found without vital signs inside a courtyard just before 2 a.m.

"They were believed to be exploring an old building because it's rumoured to be haunted," Toronto Police Const. Wendy Drummond told the Sun.

The Gothic-style, 134-year-old Connaught medical research building was the site of a grisly murder in 2001 but paranormal experts stress it's not haunted, only rumoured to be cursed.

Police said the pair managed to enter the ivy-covered building through an open window and then climbed three flights of stairs to the roof. There was still dust used by forensic investigators to recover fingerprints around the window yesterday.

The man crossed from one roof to the other, but a wire the woman was holding onto gave way and she plunged several storeys to her death, Drummond said.

Police tape was still blocking people from one stairway, which is suspected to have been used by the pair to gain access to the roof.

Police said they are still trying to determine whether it was death by misadventure.

"(The investigation) is ongoing and we'll have to go over any video surveillance, if there is any," Drummond said, adding they are also awaiting toxicology reports and an autopsy.

American-born Kubik worked in Toronto as a support centre engineer. She had also worked as a bartender.

Bar owner George Bozikis recalled the former employee as a nice person who had an eccentric style accented by the homemade eyeglasses she fashioned.

The building, erected in 1875 as the former seminary for Knox College, is no stranger to tragedy.

In January 2001, U of T professor David Buller was found stabbed there.

The talented artist suffered several wounds during the knifing frenzy in the second-floor studio where he'd taught painting for 15 years.

Professor George Hawken said he was friends and a colleague of Buller. Hawken said employees use swipe cards to gain access to the building.


TOPICS: Canada; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: darwinaward; ghosthunter; paranormal; toronto

The building.

The ghost hunter.

The Darwin Award.

1 posted on 09/11/2009 5:36:21 AM PDT by Loyalist
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To: Loyalist
The hunter becomes the hunted? Or haunted?
2 posted on 09/11/2009 5:40:54 AM PDT by techcor (I hope Obama succeeds... in becoming a one term president.)
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To: Loyalist
"The Darwin Award."

Or maybe the ghost did it.

3 posted on 09/11/2009 5:41:58 AM PDT by Errant (`)
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To: Errant
You mess with the bull, you get the horns.


4 posted on 09/11/2009 5:44:49 AM PDT by beagleone
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To: techcor
"The hunter becomes the hunted? Or haunted?"

Or maybe the haunter!

5 posted on 09/11/2009 5:45:55 AM PDT by Errant (`)
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To: Loyalist
Well. I guess she found One. Prayers for the unfortunate woman and her family. Poking around buildings is dangerous and should be undertaken only with the utmost caution. Many here myself included are interested in the paranormal. I to everyone to be careful and make sure you have permission of the property owner and access to the area in day light.
6 posted on 09/11/2009 5:46:10 AM PDT by BigCinBigD (Remember. There's no "U" in Government.)
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To: Loyalist

[P]aranormal experts stress it's not haunted, only rumoured to be cursed.

7 posted on 09/11/2009 5:49:26 AM PDT by Lonesome in Massachussets (Don't anthropomorphize the robots. They hate that.)
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To: Loyalist

Cursed?....obviously........................


8 posted on 09/11/2009 5:50:44 AM PDT by Red Badger (The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other peoples' money...M. Thatcher)
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To: Loyalist
This sounds like the first few minutes of a horror movie. The only thing missing is a crowd of coeds deciding that now would be the perfect time for a shower rather than calling the police and fleeing the building.
9 posted on 09/11/2009 6:00:58 AM PDT by KarlInOhio ("I can run wild for six months ...after that, I have no expectation of success" - Admiral Obama-moto)
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To: Loyalist
paranormal experts stress it's not haunted, only rumoured to be cursed.

Well, then it worked out pretty well. You want to see a curse in action, what could be better than plunging to your death?
10 posted on 09/11/2009 6:02:41 AM PDT by Question Liberal Authority (Why buy health insurance at all if you can't be turned down for any pre-existing conditions?)
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To: Loyalist

Now they can hunt her.


11 posted on 09/11/2009 6:37:17 AM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: Loyalist

Nice building.

I hope the wire can be repaired.


12 posted on 09/11/2009 6:39:01 AM PDT by Leisler
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To: Loyalist

“Hey, dude, how’d your date go last night?” “She’s dead.”


13 posted on 09/11/2009 7:25:10 AM PDT by Moltke
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To: Leisler

Sad event. Ghost Hunters are venturing into un-known territory and should expect some losses. They must take care. I don’t know if this lady is a ghost hunter or just Urbexing? Did she have any ghost hunting tools with her? Cameras? E-Meters? etc...?


14 posted on 09/11/2009 8:06:31 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
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To: Loyalist

Dreadful. RIP.


15 posted on 09/11/2009 9:07:58 AM PDT by LdSentinal
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To: Loyalist

RIP.


16 posted on 09/11/2009 11:07:21 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: beagleone

LOL! BTW, Was there a beagletwo?


17 posted on 09/13/2009 8:54:24 PM PDT by Errant (`)
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To: Loyalist

He must have crossed the streams.


18 posted on 09/13/2009 8:55:26 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Errant
Was there a beagletwo?

nope!
19 posted on 09/17/2009 6:40:00 AM PDT by beagleone
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