Post by hi224 on Jul 19, 2019 3:35:16 GMT
I usually post threads about true crime cases and tend to stay away from things like urban legends. However, a few years ago, I happened upon a list of various deaths and incidents that have occurred at Disney parks over the years. One case in particular intrigued me not so much because of the incident itself, but because of a lawsuit allegedly filed against the park.
On June 22, 1973, 18-year-old Bogden Delaurot and his ten-year-old brother Dorian, both from Brooklyn, visited Tom Sawyer Island. Just before the attraction closed, the brothers hatched a plan to stay on the island. When staff members began to herd the last patrons of the day onto the boat to return to park, Bogden and Dorian jumped a fence and hid in some woods behind the burning cabin. The plan was successful, after a few hours, they became bored and decided to return to the main park. Not wanting to get in trouble with park personnel, they decided to swim back (apparently, they didn't think anyone would find the sight of two boys emerging from the Rivers of America at 11pm suspicious in and of itself. Not to mention how they'd explain to their parents why they were soaked head to toe despite all the water rides having been closed for hours, but I digress.). Dorian couldn't swim, so Bogden carried him on his back. Unfortunately, the Rivers of America are not meant for swimming and have underwater turbines to give it a ripple effect. These facts, combined with his little brother's added weight caused Bogden to slip underwater and drown. Dorian managed to doggy paddle and was rescued by chance when a maintenance boat happened upon him. Bogden's body was found the next day wedged between some fake rocks near the island.
In an article from Reel Reviews, it states:
"The boys’ family sued the park alleging that the attraction’s name enticed the kids to their mischief, just like Tom and Huck did in the novel. Needless to say, Disneyland prevailed in the case."
Apart from this paragraph, I could find no other mention of such a lawsuit. Even Leagle.com lists no such case. Did it ever even happen or is it just a rumor? There were some misconceptions about the 1979 death of Sherrill Hoffman after she rode Space Mountain that a user on a Disney message board was finally able to put to rest in 2006. (link below; an example of excellent research).
Perhaps the suit never made it to court. I could see a couple of grieving parents initially needing someone to blame, but later coming to their senses and dropping the whole thing.
I'm also curious to know if there's any information about the incident that would have in any way mitigated the parents' decision to sue. Some lawsuits appear frivolous on the surface (remember how the lady with the McDonald's coffee was portrayed?) may actually have at least a little bit of merit when you dig deeper.
I doubt anyone has any information about this admittedly obscure incident, but I wasn't sure where else to post this.
Any thoughts?
Links: reelreviews.com/deadly-disneyland-deaths-at-disneyland
discuss.micechat.com/forum/disney-theme-park-news-and-discussion/disneyland-resort/40191-micechat-investigation-the-1979-space-mountain-death
On June 22, 1973, 18-year-old Bogden Delaurot and his ten-year-old brother Dorian, both from Brooklyn, visited Tom Sawyer Island. Just before the attraction closed, the brothers hatched a plan to stay on the island. When staff members began to herd the last patrons of the day onto the boat to return to park, Bogden and Dorian jumped a fence and hid in some woods behind the burning cabin. The plan was successful, after a few hours, they became bored and decided to return to the main park. Not wanting to get in trouble with park personnel, they decided to swim back (apparently, they didn't think anyone would find the sight of two boys emerging from the Rivers of America at 11pm suspicious in and of itself. Not to mention how they'd explain to their parents why they were soaked head to toe despite all the water rides having been closed for hours, but I digress.). Dorian couldn't swim, so Bogden carried him on his back. Unfortunately, the Rivers of America are not meant for swimming and have underwater turbines to give it a ripple effect. These facts, combined with his little brother's added weight caused Bogden to slip underwater and drown. Dorian managed to doggy paddle and was rescued by chance when a maintenance boat happened upon him. Bogden's body was found the next day wedged between some fake rocks near the island.
In an article from Reel Reviews, it states:
"The boys’ family sued the park alleging that the attraction’s name enticed the kids to their mischief, just like Tom and Huck did in the novel. Needless to say, Disneyland prevailed in the case."
Apart from this paragraph, I could find no other mention of such a lawsuit. Even Leagle.com lists no such case. Did it ever even happen or is it just a rumor? There were some misconceptions about the 1979 death of Sherrill Hoffman after she rode Space Mountain that a user on a Disney message board was finally able to put to rest in 2006. (link below; an example of excellent research).
Perhaps the suit never made it to court. I could see a couple of grieving parents initially needing someone to blame, but later coming to their senses and dropping the whole thing.
I'm also curious to know if there's any information about the incident that would have in any way mitigated the parents' decision to sue. Some lawsuits appear frivolous on the surface (remember how the lady with the McDonald's coffee was portrayed?) may actually have at least a little bit of merit when you dig deeper.
I doubt anyone has any information about this admittedly obscure incident, but I wasn't sure where else to post this.
Any thoughts?
Links: reelreviews.com/deadly-disneyland-deaths-at-disneyland
discuss.micechat.com/forum/disney-theme-park-news-and-discussion/disneyland-resort/40191-micechat-investigation-the-1979-space-mountain-death