A Look Back At Disneyland’s First Murder & The Following Lawsuit

The Disneyland theme park first opened its gates in 1955.

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The first murder occurred on the premise in 1981.

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Teenager Mel Yorba was stabbed in the chest in Tomorrowland.

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He was reportedly “heavily intoxicated” and accused of pinching a man’s girlfriend in her rear end.

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The man, James O’Driscoll, threw the weapon in the Castle moat and threw his blood-soaked shirt in a trashcan in a women’s restroom.

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At the time, Disneyland policy did not allow police or ambulances on the premises so it wouldn’t “ruin the magic.”

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They asked an employed nurse to tend to his fatal stab wounds, but Yorba passed away.

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The family sued Disney for $60 million dollar for failing to provide adequate emergency medical care.

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A resolution was finally reached, but the terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

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