15 People Who Gave Their Lives For Their Cell Phones

#1 Family Dies from the Stench When Trying to Get Phone from Toilet

In China in 2014, a woman dropped her brand-new phone into an open-pit toilet (similar to an outhouse), and it fell into a cesspit. Both her husband and his mother jumped in to retrieve it; however, they were overcome by the powerful fumes. When this happened, the woman who dropped her phone jumped in after them. The woman's husband and mother died from suffocation.

#2 Man Hit by Train Trying to Retrieve Cell Phone

In 2014, a man jumped onto the subway train tracks in Brooklyn and was hit by a passing train. The man had jumped onto the tracks just after 3am, because he had dropped his cell phone below. The train operator spotted him but couldn't stop the train in time. The victim was crushed between the platform and the train, and died at the scene.

#3 Man Trying to Rescue Phone Is Electrocuted by the Train Track

After a man dropped his phone onto the tracks of the Christopher Street subway station in New York, he jumped down to retrieve it. In the midst of trying to pick it up, he was electrocuted by the third rail. He died from his injuries.

#4 Teen Murdered After Using App to Find Cell Phone

In Ontario, Canada 18-year-old Jeremy Cook was killed after using an app to locate his missing cell phone.

After leaving his phone in a cab, he turned on the locator and was led to a residence. He and a friend were confronted outside of the home by three men, which led to an argument. As the men tried to flee in a car, Cook grabbed onto the door and was shot multiple times. Cook died from his wounds. His phone was recovered after his murder.

Police constable Ken Steeves told CBC News, "The app itself is a great tool to have... but if you suspect there's any potential for violence at all, we certainly encourage people to contact police."

#5 Man Dies After Jumping into Icy River for Phone

A 26-year-old Minnesota man dropped his cell phone into the Chicago River in 2014. As he held onto a railing trying to get it back, he lost his balance and fell into the icy waters. His friends jumped in after him, and the situation worsened from there.

The man who dropped his cell phone died in the hospital, while his girlfriend disappeared in the cold water where she presumably drowned. His friends were all rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

#6 Man Crushed by Trash Compactor

In 2013, an Illinois man dropped his cell phone in his apartment's trash chute. Roger Mirro reportedly went to recover his phone in the trash room, and never returned. After he hadn't returned in over three hours, his wife reported him missing. When police investigated the trash room, they discovered his crushed body inside the trash compactor.

#7 Teen Distracted by Cell Phone Was Hit by a Truck

San Diego teen Nayomi Mendez was hypnotized by her cell phone while walking down the street. With her eyes still fixated on the phone, she stepped into the path of a semi truck. She was hit and killed instantly. Her brother, who was walking with her, attempted to pull her out of the way, but it was too late.

Sgt. Art Doherty told NBC San Diego, "He attempted to grab her, unfortunately she lost her balance and went under the right rear wheels of the trailer."

#8 Woman Burns Alive After Running Back into Burning Home for Phone

Wendy Rybolt's home was in flames when she and her family safely made it outside. However, after realizing her phone was still inside, she went back in to rescue it. The woman died from smoke inhalation, despite firefighters trying their best to save her.

# Indiana Man Walks Off Cliff

Indiana man Joshua Burwell was visiting the San Diego area during Christmas time. He visited the Sunset Cliffs to view the sun set on Christmas Day. Witnesses reported that the 33-year-old was walking and staring at his cell phone when he fell 40-feet to his death. He died from serious trauma. His family explained that he was taking pictures when he fell.

#10 Teen Killed Trying to Buy Phone Off Craigslist

Jawad Ali Razai simply wanted a cell phone. The desire led to his death on October 28, 2014. Razai met with Jarrion Hood, who had posted a Craigslist ad selling an IPhone, when the incident escalated into a robbery. Razai was shot and rushed to the hospital, where he died from his injuries.

#11 Craigslist Robbery Leads to Murder

21-year-old James Jones Jr. planned to buy an IPhone 6 from a seller on Craigslist. He went to meet with the person who placed the ad, several blocks from his Marietta, Georgia home. However, when Jones arrive to purchase the phone he was shot and killed.

David Baldwin of Marietta Police explained, "It was an illegitimate ad he was responding to, and he did not know the sellers...the ad was posted in the hopes to lure somebody in, but obviously the victim didn't know that."

#12 Man Struck by Four Cars Trying to Retrieve Phone From Street

Greylin Jimenez of Davenport, Iowa was trying to pick up his phone when it fell into the middle of the road. He was hit by four cars in the process, because they couldn't see him in the dark. Jimenez died at the scene from his injuries.

#13 Man Murdered In Arguement Over Phone

Dearius Keavaughn Session shot and killed Jamal Berry after the pair got into an argument over his phone. After Barry was dead, Session took his cell phone and fled. However, Dallas Police were able to locate and arrest him for the crime.

#14 Man Dies Attempting to Find Cell Phone Near Rollercoaster

James Young had just finished riding the Raptor rollercoaster in an Ohio amusement park when he realized he lost his phone. Figuring it fell out while on the ride, Young jumped a fence and entered a restricted area where the rollercoaster was still operating. The man was hit by a train car from the rollercoaster, and he died at the scene.

#15 Man Shot in Phone Robbery Gone Wrong

Hwangbum Yang was walking down a Bronx street one night when he was approached by a man with a gun. The stranger, Dominick Davis, demanded Yang hand over his IPhone, but Yang refused to give in. Davis shot Yang once in the chest, killing him. Yang died on the sidewalk.

Davis only took Yang's cell phone in the robbery, and later listed the stolen device on Craigslist for $400.