Matthew Alec Cohn Identified as Disney World Guest Who Died by Suicide at Orlando’s Contemporary Resort — Aspiring NFL Referee and Former Musician

A tragic story has emerged out of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, where Matthew Alec Cohn, a 28-year-old aspiring NFL referee, died by suicide last week after jumping from the 12th floor of the Contemporary Resort hotel.

Cohn, from Winter Garden, Florida, had recently moved back in with his parents after spending several years in Los Angeles pursuing a career as a musician. He becomes the third Disney World guest to die this month, according to local reports.

A Promising Life Cut Short

Authorities confirmed that Cohn died on Thursday from multiple traumatic injuries, as stated by the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office.

His Instagram account, which has since been made private, featured photos of him officiating football games while wearing his referee uniform, accompanied by the hashtag #PathToNFL. His final post, shared in September 2024, showed him blowing a whistle as a player crossed the goal line, captioned:

“Big-time players make big-time plays.”

Before moving back to Florida, Cohn lived in Los Angeles, where he tried to establish himself as a musician. A SoundCloud account believed to belong to him contains several original tracks, while a second Los Angeles-based Instagram profile remains publicly visible.

Records indicate that after leaving LA, Cohn briefly lived in Nashville before returning to Orlando in 2024 to live with his parents.

Matthew Alec Cohn Identified as Disney World Guest Who Died by Suicide at Orlando’s Contemporary Resort — Aspiring NFL Referee and Former Musician

 

Events Leading to His Death

According to The U.S. Sun, Cohn checked into the Disney’s Contemporary Resort on Wednesday night, paying for his room in cash. The following day, he reportedly jumped from the 12th floor of the hotel. It remains unclear whether the act was planned prior to check-in.

Cohn, who also played high school lacrosse, had been pursuing his dream of becoming a professional football referee before his untimely death.

Cohn (left) pictured with his mother Betsy and brother Michael.

 

A Series of Tragic Incidents

Cohn’s death marks the second suicide at Disney’s Contemporary Resort this month and the third death overall at Walt Disney World in October.

• On October 14, Summer Equitz, a 31-year-old Disney fan from Naperville, Illinois, was found deceased after traveling to Florida without notifying her family.

• On October 21, another male guest in his 60s reportedly died following a medical emergency at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, less than a mile from the Contemporary Resort.

• Earlier this month, on October 8, a female guest in her 60s died after being found unresponsive on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland in California.

Remembering Matthew Alec Cohn

While few details have been released about his personal life, those who knew Matthew describe him as passionate, driven, and hopeful about his future. His journey — from aspiring musician in Los Angeles to referee chasing his NFL dreams — reflected a young man searching for purpose and belonging.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, please reach out for help. In the U.S., you can contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, available 24/7.

Cohn jumped from the 12th floor of the Contemporary Resort hotel at DIsney World.