Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
A Second Man Was Decapitated By Subway On Friday
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 23, 2013
Modified Nov 23, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 23, 2013
Modified Nov 23, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday morning, a man was decapitated by a southbound 4 train in the Bronx. And then in the afternoon, another man was decapitated by a 6 train in Manhattan.
The NY Post reports, "Cornell University professor Donald Tobias threw himself in front of a No. 6 train at East 33rd Street and Park Avenue, cops said," severing his head in the 1:40 p.m. suicide.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Post adds, "The well-dressed Tobias was seen pacing back and forth on the platform while arguing on his cellphone with a woman named Sally, said witness Solmaria Ramos, 45. 'He had a suit on. He looked like he was going to work or coming from work,' Ramos said."
Tobias, 68, was the executive director of the Cornell University Cooperative Extension office. According to the Cornell Chronicle, "He taught courses on nonprofit management and provided technical assistance to nonprofits and government agencies. In addition, Tobias helped develop programs in Burma, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Bangladesh to link rural food producers and urban markets." Cornell President David Skorton said, "Robin and I are deeply saddened to have lost a treasured colleague and friend. Don carried with him every day the spirit of the land-grant mission and worked to make individuals’ lives better every day. Our hearts go out to Brenda, his wife and member of our Cornell family.”
Tagged
33rd street
6 train
decapitation
donald tobias
subway
subway suicide
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Dump truck driver hits and kills cyclist on 34th Street in Midtown, NYPD says
It's the latest in a string of hit-and-run deaths in the city in recent months.
By
Liam Quigley
Published Sep 28, 2026 at 4:15 p.m. ET
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
News
New ingredient mandated for Latin American kitchen, restaurant plates in NJ
The Garden State now requires that corn masa dough and flour made and sold in the state be fortified with folic acid.
By
Arya Sundaram
A Brooklyn jail cell filled with smoke. The emergency button failed, a lawyer said.
By
Samantha Max
Crews launch tunnel machines to dig first new Hudson River rail tunnels since 1910
By
Michael Sol Warren
NYC nor’easter dries up after weather service reports minor flooding
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .