On April 9, 2015, Batayeh shared a tweet expressing his thoughts on suicide and its religious implications. As a Roman Catholic, he mentioned the double standard surrounding the topic, referencing Jesus' perceived suicidal tendencies and the conflicting teachings regarding suicide as a sin: “Let’s face it … Jesus was suicidal and as a Roman Catholic I was taught suicide is a SIN … Double standard because he was the boss’s son.”
But that was only one of many other suicide related posts the actor made on social media.
From The New York Post:
Just over a year later, the star penned a second eerie post about suicide.
“You ever been so bored you contemplate suicide just because it’s something to do?” Batayeh asked his followers on April 17, 2016.
On Nov. 20, 2019, the actor again appeared in a morose frame of mind, tweeting: “Holiday season is here. It’s a time of reflection and rebirth. It’s also a time of depression and suicide. It’s all perspective.”
He sardonically added, “#tistheseason.”
Batayeh’s family previously told The Post that the actor died in his sleep of a heart attack and that his passing was very sudden.
When contacted by The Post on Monday, Batayeh’s manager, Steve Owens, reiterated that the actor “died of a heart attack in his sleep” without further comment.
However, a Pittsfield Township Police Department report obtained by The Post indicated that law enforcement had been called to his third-floor, one-bedroom apartment for an “unattended death” and “possible suicide.”
According to the report, a male relative was aware of Batayeh’s “turbulent mental health” and that Batayeh had spent a weekend with him late last month “to distract himself.” The relative claimed to police that Batayeh had attempted suicide about a decade ago.
The report also noted that another witness, identified as Batayeh’s “therapist,” claimed that the actor had been his client “off and on for the past seven years,” and the witness had become concerned when Batayeh missed a scheduled appointment on the morning of June 1.
It is evident that Batayeh was struggling with profound inner turmoil, and tragically, it overwhelmed him.
Suicide is an incredibly intricate and somber subject, often leaving the loved ones of those who have taken their own lives grappling with immense guilt, questioning if there was any way they could have intervened.
Batayeh's situation showed evident indications of distress, raising questions about the support he had been receiving and the kind of assistance he might have required.
