Christine Chubbuck suicide video ‘has been located’

It seems the station did have a copy after all

Newsreader Christine Chubbuck’s on-air suicide in 1974 has long been a source of morbid internet fascination, and earlier this year not one but two films about it were premiered at Sundance.

Despite being broadcast live to thousands, the recording of the newscast was thought to have been lost, with her brother Greg previously telling People: "I don't know to this day where it is, but I know no one knows where it is.”

It was probably for the best that the tape was lost, but it seems this is no longer the case.

Mollie Nelson, the widow of Chubbuck’s news station, confirmed to Vulture this week that she has the video - it having been passed onto her by her late husband Robert Nelson who apparently had kept it all these years though did not say why.

In one of the Chubbuck films, Kate Plays Christine, a former employee of the WXLT news station suggests that Mollie Nelson might have the tape, which led to her receiving an influx of calls about it. This made her uncomfortable, so she reportedly has passed it onto a “very large law firm” for safe keeping.

On the morning of 15 July, 1974, WXLT host Chubbuck looked into the camera following a news report and said: “In keeping with Channel 40’s policy of bringing you the latest in blood and guts and in living colour, you are going to see another first - an attempted suicide.”

She then drew a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson revolver from behind her desk and shot herself behind her right ear, falling forward and striking her head on the desk before falling to the floor.

You can read a full account of what happened here.

Though thankfully rare, on-air deaths and attacks are unfortunately seen by many these days, with it being nigh on impossible to restrict any event from the internet completely.

If there's something troubling you, then get in touch with Samaritans on 116 123 (UK).