On Thursday, law enforcement sources and court documents confirmed the identity of the individual who tragically jumped from the rooftop bar in Manhattan. The man was a Connecticut father of three who had just filed for divorce from his wife one day prior to his death.
At about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, Dale L. Cheney, age 46, fell from the 54th floor of the Hyatt Centric Times Square New York. The hotel is located at West 45th Street and Seventh Avenue. The incident was witnessed by at least two individuals.
Tragically, the man was pronounced dead by authorities after he fell to the ground from the top of the building. The New York City Police Department is treating the death as a possible suicide.
The day before this incident, the deceased man had filed for divorce from his wife Lauren Cheney, which was recorded in the court records of Connecticut. Additionally, law enforcement sources informed The Post that the police had been called to his former home in the Upper East Side twice in 2008 due to domestic disputes with his wife. One of the dangerous disputes was related to finances.
According to two sources from the rooftop bar, the man had jumped from the building himself, and one woman even made a 911 call after hearing a loud noise. A parking attendant, Nino Rodriguez, reported hearing a “big crack” at the time of the fall.
Tom Blundell, the general manager of the Hyatt Centric Times Square, expressed his deep sorrow in a statement regarding the tragic incident that happened outside the rooftop bar.
Blundell shared additional insight on the case through a spokesperson. He said: “We are working closely with local authorities. The safety and well-being of all our colleagues, hotel guests and Bar 54 guests remains a top priority, and at this time, as a result of this tragic incident, we will keep the door to the bar’s outdoor space locked at all times.”
Within a period of four months, this man is the second person who has jumped from the rooftop bar at the hotel.