Kern County Obituaries

Robin Leslie Sampson

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Mojave Desert News; 4 Jan 1996

Coroner rules death a suicide Woman unstrapped herself
by Conim Baker
CALIFORNIA CITY — A 33-year-old woman killed herself Saturday by unfastening her 
harness and removing her parachute during a static-line jump at the California City Sky 
Diving Club.
The Kern County Coroner's office ruled the death of Robin Leslie Sampson, of Carpenteria, 
a suicide after further investigation.
According to Bob Celaya, operator of the Sky Diving Club, the woman arrived Saturday, 
alone, in a rental car, and requested the first time student static-line course. She went 
through the lengthy course without mishap or suspicion and boarded the plane.
"I took her on a brief tour of the facility and she appeared fine," said spokesperson Bob Zinn. 
"She was excited about jumping and bringing in the new year."
Celaya reported she was the third jumper out and made a normal student exit. It was at 
approximately 2,000 feet of the 3500 foot jump that Sampson worked her way out of a 
fully-deployed and fully-functioning parachute after floating for more than two minutes.
Although no one was near the woman when she removed herself from her harness, a ground 
control worker radio'd Celaya reporting he had seen "something fall from the parachute."
Celaya said he was shocked as he arrived on the scene and found no body in the canopy.
"When we found her body, it was apparent that she had undid her chest straps, unsnapped 
her radios, removed her helmet and a pair of pink gloves, unfastened her leg strap, and 
intentionally fell to her death."
Official reports state a knife was found in the victim's jacket pocket and a bottle of 
containing Prozac was also found.