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9/11 claims one more victim
- Text size
NY Daily News | September 4, 2008
 WTC hero Kenny Johannemann, who pulled a burning man from WTC, poses with talk show host Jenny Jones. |
ohannemann’s suicide note. Taggart for News
Johannemann’s suicide note.
Letter from the White House.
After Kenny Johannemann shot himself, relatives found a letter on White House stationery in the one-room apartment he shared only with his cat.
October 31, 2001
Dear Kenny,
We send you our heartfelt thanks and the thanks of a grateful Nation for your selfless efforts in responding to the tragic events of Sept. 11. Your actions in the midst of this national tragedy were truly heroic. Your saving a man who was on fire by dragging him out of an elevator and getting him to an ambulance reflected the best of the American spirit.
Sincerely,
George Bush
Laura Bush
Johannemann was a part-time janitor assigned to clean rest rooms in the north tower on 9/11 and was, indeed, credited with saving a man.
His family says that day changed him, that he became withdrawn and began drinking heavily, falling in and out of work.
Twelve days before the seventh anniversary of the day he saved a life, Johannemann took his own.
The police then vouchered another letter, the suicide note the 43-year-old wrote on Sunday afternoon, shortly before the 5 p.m. deadline his landlord had set for him to vacate for nonpayment of rent.
“The reason I killed myself was ’cause I was getting evicted and I can’t handle being homeless. I also am very depressed since I was in 9/11. I’ve been drinking way too much and it’s ruined my life. I’ve lost friends and family over drinking and I’m very lonely. There is nothing left for me to be happy about other than my cat. Sounds weird, but it’s true. I just wanted to say sorry 2 any people I ever hurt in my life. I really was a good person when I wasn’t drinking. I hope people remember that!
Goodbye!!!
Kenny Johannemann”
On a separate sheet was a plea: “Please find my cat a home. His name is Papa-Boy and he’s a very special cat.”
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The police brought Papa-Boy to the 122nd Precinct stationhouse on Staten Island. The tabby was trembling when one of Johannemann’s cousins, Gerald Maya, picked him up. Maya also collected Johannemann’s cell phone. He dialed every number in it to pass on the tragic news.
“Everybody I called on his cell phone said, ‘I would have given him the money. The guy was beautiful.’” Maya said Wednesday. “Nothing bad on this man.”
Maya had offered Johannemann a place to stay, as had another cousin who lived nearby. Johannemann had declined.
“I really can’t tell you why,” Maya said.
The other cousin, Joseph Maya, spoke of the Johannemann before 9/11; a man who seemed content in his work and who delighted in his extended family.
“He had a job and he was happy,” Joseph Maya said.
Johannemann often said he might have been killed on 9/11 had he not stopped to get a cup of coffee just before the plane hit.
Otherwise, he might have been on an elevator when a jet crashed and flaming fuel poured down the shaft.
Instead, he was waiting for an elevator when he heard a huge bang and the doors burst open. A man tumbled out on fire and Johannemann helped him to an ambulance.
“He was burned up bad but he was still alive,” Johannemann told People magazine.
In the aftermath, Johannemann appeared on the “Jenny Jones Show” and received the letter from the White House. Privately, the hero became a reclusive alcoholic.
“He just started backing away and not bothering with anyone,” Joseph Maya recalled.
He avoided family, even on the holidays he had always loved. He seemed convinced he was friendless and alone.
“He said he had nobody, but meanwhile everybody loved him,” Joseph Maya said.
In May, he moved into a single room on Rome Ave. He landed a job as a custodian at a Manhattan museum two weeks ago, but he had fallen two months behind on his rent. The landlord, Anthony Mallazzi, told him to be out by 5 p.m. Sunday.
As the deadline neared, one of Mallazzi’s sons heard a sound like a popping paper bag. Mallazzi arrived home soon afterward and went to see if his tenant had moved out. The door was open.
“I said, ‘Kenny? Kenny?’” Mallazzi recalled.
Mallazzi entered and saw Johannemann. Nearby lay the two letters, the one on White House stationery and the suicide note.
“He was a 9/11 hero,” Mallazzi said Wednesday. “He saved a person on 9/11.”
Mallazzi paused.
“Who the hell’s to blame?” Mallazzi said. “I feel a little guilty. Everybody feels a little guilty.”
On Wednesday, Johannemann was waked at a Brooklyn funeral home.
Papa-Boy was at the cousin’s house, cowering in corners, but beginning to venture out.
“At least he stopped shaking,” Gerald Maya said.
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September 5th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Rest In Peace brother.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Listen to Joe “the rat” Lieberman’s Freudian slip when he said at the Republican Convention that 9/11 was a great natural disaster, then he corrected himself and said, 9/11 was a great unnatural disaster. He got it right the second time because 9/11 was unnatural. Get Alex Jones to loop Joe’s slip of the tongue.
September 6th, 2008 at 12:40 am
I wonder if he heard the bombs…Realized what happened…I wonder if he tried to tell everyone but no one took him seriously…That would be a terrible life to live…
But, he killed himself, and that’s a cowards way out. Regardless of what he’s done.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:01 am
Can’t even imagine what he lived with and our loving government is too blame.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Vengeance is mine saith the Lord .
September 6th, 2008 at 1:08 am
what a fucked up country where heroes are dropped like that, and no help offered for a troubled soul.
A country where a hero is less worth than 2 months of rent? –
No wonder the US became this ugly cancer polluting and wrecking the world.
Have a safe journey brother.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:12 am
Saints will be born, leaders with rise. Death to the NWO!
September 6th, 2008 at 1:43 am
ECHO: a cowards way out. people in the military have been committing suicide. were they cowards too. because last time i checked its the highest on record surpassing civilian suicide rate per 100,000. i hope you were drunk or high when you decided to print that. by the way he was already commiting suicide just alot slower. good thing were all the same and can handle lifes problems as well as you can. such arrogance and devoid of spirit. you need a crash course in compassion and understanding because people are tired of people like you making life harder on them when it doesn’t have to be that way.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:51 am
oh boy oh boy
(((this is sad:(((
Tomorrow we are heading to Eureopean’s commision in Bruselles , for 9/11 truth. The world must move, the world must wake up , enough is enough , until when those who commited this horrible crime should stay out there FREE , laughing at us.
I had a dream last week, God speaking to the world! Speaking about his power and might. Then he said , that he is sending the angel of judgment to the earth! I look up and saw a big white thick cloud , in shape of a lady from side angle , with a pointed finger , moving…..
Well guys , something is going to happen, something very important. Those who commited this act and are commiting lots fo other criminal acts arent going to get away. I beleive in my dreams , and I know something big is going to happen. They are cornered, the truth is going to RISE and break up their satanic tower.. NWO is dying.
September 6th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Echo… what the hell bro? You say that is a cowards way out? I cant even imagine under what circumstance I would take my own life but, it would have to be extreme I mean very extreme. This mans soul had to have ached to badly that he just couldn’t take it anymore. I am sad that you cannot see that. I have had friends from the USMC talk to me about wanting to commit suicide… i know for a fact that none of them are cowards….. I know for a fact that one of them took an RPG to the chest and it didnt explode and it really messed him up in his mind! I think you should think for a bit about how you can put yourself in this mans shoes….. and try to find a better way of expressing yourself…. perhaps taking a young soul like this by the hand would be a good way to start and showing them that life is so precious that noone can take it from you unless you allow them. Anyway…. I guess a little more heart would be a start.
HOORAH!! SEMPER FI!!!
September 6th, 2008 at 2:14 am
WOW! This story saddens me to no end. I only wish I had known this hero… sorry to say being on the other side of the country I would have done anything for him…. And I sincerely MEAN this. It is a terrible testament to this status of this country when someone like this dies in loneliness…. it just saddens me to no end.
It’s so hard for me to believe that NO ONE cared enough to get him help!?!?!?!? So what he was drinking obviously we know the why but anyone who is willing to risk his life to save another is a good person BUT WHEN HE WAS IN TROUBLE – NO ONE WAS THERE – so sad and WRONG!!!!!!!!! It makes me mad.
REST IN PEACE KENNY – GOD BLESS YOU
September 6th, 2008 at 2:27 am
Something sounds weird about the whole story. He saved a life and his suicide note doesn’t match up with the type of person he seemed to be. I can’t shake the feeling something is not right about it. The note sounds fake.
Why was the door open? Did he know something and the government told him not to say anything? Did he start feeling guilty because of that knowledge? Did he withdraw from friends and family due to threat? Could that be why he refused to move in with either of his cousins when they offered? Was he trying to protect his friends and family? Did he really kill himself or was he murdered?
Who found the letters? The landlord, relatives, or police? First the story says relatives found the White House letter. ONE letter. Then the landlord saw Kenny Johannemann and TWO letters lay nearby. Then the police produced the suicide letter. Wouldn’t the police have taken both letters? Yet the story states the family found the White House letter.
My gut instinct says there’s more to this story than meets the eye. We all know our loving government is capable of cold-blooded murder. This seems too convenient since it’s obvious our government doesn’t want any witnesses from Ground Zero left alive. (Our heroic First Responders continuing to die is a prime example.)
Even if I’m totally wrong, in the end, our government is to blame for another 9/11 death.
RIP Kenny Johannemann Your death won’t be in vain.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:42 am
i’m a full on alex jones supporter but it seems a little unfair to attribute his death to 9-11 and say it claimed one more victim. it would be more appropriate to say a tragic event attributed to the death of one of it’s scarred victims. you could also blame alcohol and tho i still believe it was an inside job and always will, saying things like this really don’t help your cause and make you look bad.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:45 am
R.I.P. brave heart
September 6th, 2008 at 2:50 am
What a tragedy. What has happened to our society? Is a mans life worth so little? I wish I had known this man, I would have tried to help him. The problem is in our culture men are taught not to show ‘weakness’ by talking about their problems. I went through some serious shit as a young man (Vietnam) and for a some years afterward drank way to much. People go through things in life and it injures their souls, often causing great distress. A sickness of spirit that more often than not is self medicated with alcohol and drugs. This alienates those that could possibly help.
If anyone out there is in this kind of trouble please find someone to talk to. There are lots of organizations out there that can help. A.A. is a good place to start.
Again, I wish I had known this fine young man. I wish I could have been there for him.
My condolences to his family.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:03 am
I have seen a real Suicide note, there nothing like that one believe me.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:43 am
What a tragedy. What has happened to our society? Is a mans life worth so little?
No, but the danger of being exposed to the truth, and the criminals being uncovered for who they really are, unfortunately is.
Criminals and there criminal minds, will stop at nothing for committing more crimes and especially from ever being caught. Now, put that idea with the fact that the criminals also happen to be in charge of a country and everything around it, and this makes matters 100 times worse.
And, this is not the worse part of it. The worse part of it is that most people still don’t get it and most people will still accept the Governments version of 911, along with the BS from the media. In Canada, The discovery channel will soon have am episode on the pentagon BS story. The shit just doesn’t stop and the idiots still keep eating it. Let’s face it, we are living in a very dumb downed world and it is very hard to reach the majority of people who like living in denial and very ignorant to what’s really going on in this world. The Elite know this, but most sheople have no idea.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:57 am
This is why we have to make the REAL BASTARDS who did 9-11 pay. It didn’t end on 9-11… a crime of this magnitude MUST be fully uncovered and punished. If we don’t, we do not have a country, we do not have civilization, we do not have an ounce of Liberty!
September 6th, 2008 at 4:12 am
I saw a video called the Falling Man . It was about one of the people , caught on film, that chose to jump
from the World Trade Centers . It was so hard to watch knowing the attacks were done on purpose by the
evil bastards in D.C. The sadness I felt was gut wrenching . I can’t even imagine what it would be like to
be there and live with those memories . I have lived in Oklahoma for over 20 years and I still can’t get myself to go to the memorial at OKC . Knowing that people in our country did this to Americans so that they could concentrate power and further an agenda . I think I would literally have a heart attack from the
rage i would feel seeing those fucking empty stone chairs with our peoples names on them . Those were living breathing people you bastards !
September 6th, 2008 at 4:20 am
How can the Bush’s send this man a sympathy letter, when they know iy was an inside job?
September 6th, 2008 at 4:33 am
PLEASE FIX THIS COMMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Otherwise, he might have been on an elevator when a jet crashed and flaming fuel poured down the shaft.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:47 am
…Ah-bdi… Scores of nice people have to live real shitty lives so that a few lazy big mouths assholes can play God !!!
September 6th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Dear Kenny,
Georg here, I think there is an ‘e’ at the end of my name but I can’t remem-em-ember at this point. What you did-ed on 11/9 didn’t matter at all because, having you alive just made the total death count lest-er and we needed as many Americans deed so they can hate you know…um…uhhh.arghhh…you know – those fellas…….the one’s that work for Osama Bin Laden. Sad news he is died to, actually in december of 2001. It was a sad christmas for me, and that turban islamic friend of mine that came to my office on sept 13th 2 days after you saved that chinese womans life. He told-ed me (over wine and arab cigars made in china) that there is nothing to fear georg …for the jew knows. Anyway my wife said ‘who the hell is kenny J’ – i says to her remem-em-ember that guy that cleaned the wtc for 5 doll hairs an hour? i says to her, yeah.
anyway son, the end was near soon because after i cancel the elections this november, i will entact my NSPD 51 meaning i have all power. and since i dont care for god in anyway..opps does god have a Capital? ..i dont care for goD butt i will say anyway goD bless you and may i live forever with the aid of technological medicne and all…hey how do you suppose my mother is still alive i am 63 or 63, my husban…er wife reminds me but anyway Me old and still have mom thanks to injections.
bye
your friend,
pal,
and prime minister that stole the 2000 elections from Alberta Gare
georg w. bush
bye bye
p.s i always wanted to invade iraQ and kill saddam since he tried to kill my father in 1991
bbye
September 6th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Post 22 LEE KEE, there is nothing wrong with that statement.
There WERE planes. Therefore there WAS jet fuel possibly flaming..
September 6th, 2008 at 6:03 am
you all seem to be overlooking the fact that people kill themselves after tragic events all the time and if your going to bastardize this event for traumatizing the guy to suicide then we should be bastardizing all tragic events that push people over the edge. this article has an unfair title and only makes alex’s argument weaken.
you need to shy away from getting worked up over things like this. propaganda goes both ways, it’s not only used by our enemies…
September 6th, 2008 at 6:06 am
you all seem to be overlooking the fact that people kill themselves after tragic events all the time and if your going to bastardize this event for traumatizing the guy to suicide then we should be bastardizing all tragic events that push people over the edge. this article has an unfair title and only makes alex’s argument weaken.
you need to shy away from getting worked up over things like this. propaganda goes both ways, it’s not only used by our enemies….
September 6th, 2008 at 6:15 am
Dear fellow Christians, Patriots, Americans, and other people with a heart,
This morning I had a dream, that I was in a classroom/coffeehouse and in this particular room was plastered from the ceiling to the floor gigantic posters of the planes exploding as they were hitting the twin towers and one of the “posters” that was eye-level became a movie screen that showed looped newsreel type coverage of the planes hitting the towers and people screaming and running away, then it showed the towers burning and people leaping off the building, then later it showed video clips of other buildings in free fall, partially constructed buildings and all of the bricks were falling and the building construction workers were either falling off the building or being crushed to death by the bricks.
This was a dream that reminded me of the horrors of that awful day of 9/11. It is a somber reminder that many many people died in just one swoop. There were many heros that came out from that day and yet they are suffering slow deaths, today.
We should remember to honor those that have died and also remember those heros who are still living this day.
Everybody, please remember to pray for the victims of 9/11 both the living and the dead. And don’t forget to pray for America and ask for God’s mercy and compassion on us all. May Justice prevail and Evil be conquered. In the Blessed Name of Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
September 6th, 2008 at 6:16 am
I met him 2 months ago at his house. He was a realy nice person. I met his cat also.
R.I.P Kenny.
Jonathan
September 6th, 2008 at 7:01 am
To #10————Amen brother
September 6th, 2008 at 7:10 am
Waco, Oklahoma, and 911 are examples of what is called the “Heglean Principle”
this is when the government causes a problem and gets the people all stirred up, then they offer a solution like a new gun ban, Patriot act, cameras, phone tapping etc which at this point the people are willing to accept anything to feel ” safer” , but their solution is worse than the problem but gets us one step closer to the NWO which is their real agenda. It is all very elementary.
September 6th, 2008 at 7:26 am
I know we shouldn’t theorize on how someone died but this just seems strange.
First of all the note doesn’t seem appropriately written given the moment the person was living. It seems that note was written by someone else rather than the poor man himself. It’s way too empty in words.
Second, forced suicide (method of execution where the victim is given the choice of committing suicide or facing an alternative they perceive as worse, such as suffering torture; having friends or family members imprisoned, tortured or killed; or losing honor, position or means. are very common and always was and I think it’s the most used method by Y individual against X individual. According to that note “I was getting evicted and I can’t handle being homeless”, if this note is truely his note, written by him, then perhaps either someone was giving him two choices, one he thought was worse “being homeless” and the only way which was suicide. Some people rather die than losing their honor, integrity or facing higher consequences and I don’t blame them.
Third and last, the people behind 9/11 have a way of clearing their way and shutting down witnesses. Dr Ivins was a witness aswell and was involved with the Anthrax, he could certainly name a endless list of names to blame but I think he was definately forced to suicide.
Forced suicides dates back to Ancient Greece and Rome it is no surprise. It is one of the most used methods of suicide and is the one that has higher impact on the victims because they are given choices.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:07 am
R.I.P This is a very sad story. If he killed himself willfully I dont blame him. If he was forced to then that is very tragic. This man was a hero that day and if someone wants him killed well thats just disgusting honestly.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:55 am
‘“He said he had nobody, but meanwhile everybody loved him,” Joseph Maya said.’
Ya, I’m sure everyone loved him, just as long as he didn’t talk about what happened and acted like everything was fine.
People are so superficial. Where was his family? Where were his friends? Did they stick around to help him through the trauma he obviously was suffering from? Or did they just want their cozy lives to continue on as though nothing happened.
His friends and family are endemic of all of America. Go to sleep and pretend nothing is happening. Close your eyes while your government takes away your liberties and sends poor people to go and die in foreign countries for the rich. Just close your eyes while Obama and McCain force the same tired bullshit down your throats while the real heroes scream for attention but you won’t even bat them an eye. Just drink your Starbucks, drive your gas guzzling cars and then complain when victimized countries want some of the same luxuries you flaunt every day.
Who is to blame for this man’s death? Everyone in America who would tow the line and stick with the status quo rather than fight for REAL CHANGE! You’ve all got blood on your hands!
Wake up Americans. Or next time it could be your son that loses out to the hopelessness of it all.
Oh well…. where’s my x-box?
September 6th, 2008 at 9:16 am
What a tragedy! Demonic forces overwhelmed him. There is a batte raging beyond our perception. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement for our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isa 53:5. Jesus paid the price! As bad as a person may feel there is hope if he or she diligently looks.
September 6th, 2008 at 9:18 am
just wondering why my post is being held while others are bing posted please let me know what if anything is wrong with what i wrote thanks hiphopcrusade@msn.com
September 6th, 2008 at 9:30 am
There are too many things u could die from today, it’s a shame whne someone takes thier life! No matter how bad things get as long as ur still breathing they could turn around. Like the story of the guy who killed himself and 3 days later won the publishers clearing house. Or the guy who killed himself cuz his wife left and then she’s the one that finds him dead because she decided to come back! So you never know what life will bring but, we all know what death will bring.
September 6th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Based on what I have read, it seems that Mr. Johannemann was suffering from PTSD and depression as a result of 9/11 and was drinking to mask the feelings he had difficulty sharing. Combine it with the very severe level of financial pressure and it is almost something waiting to happen. I think it underscores the neglect of true legitimate health care that First Responders who are suffering physically are being denied. People can contend that he was not a victim of 9/11. There is a strong answer to that. I sincerely doubt he would have experienced such deep PTSD, depression and alcoholism if he had never gone through the trauma.
Very sad to see that someone who saved another life never got through the events of that day. Very angry to know of all those responsible for or having prior knowledge of 9/11 ran like rats and seemingly have no conscience or sensitivity.
September 6th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Damn, Please reach out if you or someone you know feels this way. Even when you think your situation is hopeless there are really countless opportunities many you many not even be able to imagine but they exist and are just waiting for you.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
was this really suicide or did he start talking too much?
September 6th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I agree with you Zach. Depression and PTSD can sneak up on people when they dont even realize it some times until it hits them hard and they dont know how to get out or ask for help.
R.I.P. Kenny
September 6th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
No matter how dark the night, the light will come. It sooooo easy to lose faith in each other and especially in ourselves that’s life….the only thing that gets us through the storms of life is knowing God NEVER desserts us…EVER!! Life holds NO promise of having all the comforts we desire but God promises us if we remain faithful to bring us through our trials.
I’m 47 and I lost my wise old Irish mother right after my beautiful daughter was born 15 years ago, mom always said “too soon old and too late wise!” No truer words were ever spoken. All the brick walls we face and all the shattered glass we stumble on can make us strong and wise but we are mere mortals and sometimes life is just too hard to bear, that’s when our Savior asks us to lay our troubles upon his door and to be still and know He is God.
I’ll pray for your beautiful soul Kenny….God be with you!
September 6th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
He’s right! It is absolutely HORRIFYING to be homeless in the USA, and even more horrifying going throught the sick and nasty programs the POVERTY PIMPS run. He did the right thing.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
no matter how you feel on the matter of suicide, the basic truth exists. a 911 hero is no longer with us, and iu personally lament the loss. RIP and Godbless you sir.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
shocked american: hope? i just hope i live to see another day to watch my children grow up. i guess my hope would be for my kids not to have to watch me suffer another day. much more and i can only hope god takes me out quickly. at this moment the physical pain, mental, and emotional toll it takes on a person is obviously foreign to you and no its not because demons have overtaken my body so please stop speaking for the rest of us. everyone dies whether it be from disease or old age. when you come to the end of your life and know your going to die then you’ll understand.
September 7th, 2008 at 2:43 am
As this 7 year marker approaches I think of those I could of helped and didn’t because of my own insecurity and issues and make a commitment to — day by day reach out to someone I know and just ask 3 simple question “how are you my friend? are you doing ok? is there anything that I can do for you?”
September 24th, 2008 at 8:34 am
This was from the article: “Otherwise, he might have been on an elevator when a jet crashed and flaming fuel poured down the shaft.”
Not ONE SINGLE REPORT of jet fuel smell, odor, or existance has ever been mentioned or reported by ANYONE at any of the 4 locations from any of the 4 planes on 9-11 (government agents claim that fuel had pooled at the WTC’s on the ground though there are many things wrong with that claim). The tragedy of this man’s death goes to show just how far we will go to ignore the truth. Keep believing that over 80,000 gallons of jet fuel exploded that day…..even though there has not been one single speck of evidence that any jet fuel existed at any of the 4 locations on 9-11. In Shanksville and the Pentagon….the workers are not even wearing a single piece of protective masking. Look at the photos yourself. At the Pentagon the site would have been declared a disaster area just from the fuel spill ALONE. Over 12,000 gallons of fuel was supposedly spilled there? And not one single report of jet fuel odor, smell, or even the existance was ever mentioned in any report. This was the case at ALL 4 locations.
Kenny left us because he knew the truth and he could no long stand the lies. Once you know the truth you begin to realize how vast the conspiracy is to never allow it to be told.