This is just so odd.

Suicidal man had destructive past

By Kirk Mitchell
DenverPost.com

A 56-year-old Miami man who apparently committed suicide on a United Airlines flight that was diverted to Denver Wednesday night had torched a North Miami car delearship over the weekend causing more than $1 million in damage. Gerald Georgettis was a passenger on a flight from Washington Dulles airport to Los Angeles when his body was discovered strangled by a rope in the lavatory, according to the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. "It is apparent this was a suicide," said Virginia Quiñones, Denver police spokesperson.

On Saturday afternoon, Georgettis plowed his brand new SUV into the showroom window of North Dade Metro Ford, doused his car and others with gasoline and lit them up, according to a Miami Herald report. Police arrested him and charged him with first-degree arson, and felony criminal mischief. He posted a $1,500 bond on Sunday.

United flight #209 was diverted to Denver International Airport for an emergency landing at 4:20 p.m. after Georgettis' body was discovered. His body was taken to Fitzimmons Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:12 p.m., according to a Denver police report. Georgettis, an Australian, had for the past seven years managed the municipal theater for North Miami Beach. He scheduled concerts, graduations, seminars and plays in the 900-seat theater, said Harriet Orr, director of North Miami Parks and Recreation. He rented out the theater to producers and supervised technicians.

Georgettis formally was the concert manager for the rock group Pink Floyd, Orr said. "He was a terrific guy," she said. "He did a great job for us." Not once had Georgettis ever given an indication he had a hot tempter, Orr said. "We don't understand it," she said. "It's devastating to us."