Evelyn McHale was born on the 20th of September 1923, in Berkeley, California, to parents Helen and Vincent McHale. She is reported to be the sixth of seven children, although some accounts suggest she had as many as nine siblings. In 1930, her father, Vincent, a bank examiner, relocated the family to Washington, D.C. After this relocation, Evelyn's mother suffered from depression. Unfortunately, her depression went undiagnosed and therefore untreated, which contributed to a toxic and unstable marriage, ultimately resulting in divorce. Vincent obtained full custody of the children and moved them to Tuckahoe, New York, where Evelyn attended Eastchester High School. After completing her education at Normandy High School in 1942, McHale enlisted in the Women's Army Corps and was stationed in Jefferson City, Missouri. In the latter part of 1944, she relocated to Baldwin, Long Island, to reside with her brother and sister-in-law. There, she secured employment as a bookkeeper for an engraving firm located in lower Manhattan. While attending a New Year’s Eve celebration in 1945 to commemorate her discharge, she encountered Barry Rhodes, a fellow Baldwin resident and former Army navigator who was pursuing an engineering degree through the G.I. Bill at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. Their relationship blossomed into a courtship, leading to their engagement and plans for a wedding in June 1947 at the residence of Barry’s brother in Troy, New York.

Evelyn inherited her mother's struggle with depression. In the summer of 1946, following the wedding of Barry's brother, an unsettling sense of despair enveloped her. As one of the bridesmaids, she initially participated in the festivities, but after the ceremony, she became increasingly distressed, convinced that she would never measure up as a wife to Barry. Despite Barry's reassurances, Evelyn remained unconvinced, ultimately discarding the bridesmaid's dress in a fit of frustration, declaring that she never wished to see it again. Her fears regarding their impending marriage haunted her, as she was anxious that it would mirror the unfortunate outcome of her mother's union. Barry made persistent efforts to alleviate her concerns, yet his words failed to assuage her deep-seated anxieties. Various sources have indicated that she carried a significant amount of emotional trauma, rooted in her parents' divorce and the frequent relocations she endured.

On the 30th of April 1947, Evelyn traveled to Easton to celebrate Barry's 24th birthday. She stayed overnight, and the following morning at 7 a.m. on the 1st of May, Barry bid her farewell with a kiss as she boarded the train to New York. Barry recounted to reporters, “She often voiced fears of not being a good wife, but when I kissed her goodbye, she was happy and as normal as any girl about to be married. I don't know what her last words to me were; she had to run for the train.” Tragically, this was the last occasion Barry saw his cherished fiancée alive. Evelyn reached Penn Station at approximately 9 a.m. and subsequently crossed the street to the Governor Clinton Hotel. There, she purchased a small black notebook and penned her suicide note which reads….

 “I don’t want anyone in or out of our family to see me. Could you destroy my body by cremation ? I beg of you and my family - don’t have any service for me. My fiancé asked me to marry him in June. I don’t think I would make a good wife for anybody. He is much better off without me. Tell my father, I have too many of my mother’s tendencies.” 

Following this, she proceeded to the Empire State Building and acquired a ticket to the observation deck located on the 86th floor, the site from which she leaped to her demise, landing atop a car parked on 34th Street. Patrolman John Morrissey, who was managing traffic below, recalls witnessing a white scarf descending from the upper levels of the Empire State Building before he heard a tremendous crash. Meanwhile, Cabbie and photographer Robert Wiles, alerted by the disturbance, hurried across the street to investigate. Standing just a few feet from the vehicle and wielding his camera, Robert captured the iconic image of Evelyn Mchale’s lifeless form resting on the dented, glossy black Car. At first glance, Evelyn appeared serene and picturesque; she still held a pearl necklace in her gloved hand. She seemed to be in a state of slumber, her ankles gently crossed, and her other hand positioned delicately above her head. Yet, the shattered glass and mangled metal of the car roof starkly illustrate the violent nature of her 1,040-foot fall. Robert inadvertently encapsulated in a single photograph both elegance and beauty alongside horror and death. The image continues to resonate with haunting impact, much as it did over six decades ago.

Wiles' photograph of Evelyn gained widespread recognition upon its initial publication as the "Picture of the Week" in the 12th, May, 1947, edition of Life Magazine. The accompanying caption stated…

 ”Picture of the week”

“On May Day just after leaving her fiancé, 23- Year-year old Evelyn McHale wrote a note.”He is much better off without me… I wouldn’t make a good wife for anybody’” Then she crossed it out. She went to the observation platform of the Empire State Building. Through the mist she gazed at the street 86 floors below. Then she jumped. In her desperate determination she leaped clear of the setbacks and hit a United Nations Limousine parked at the curb. Across the street photographer student Robert Wiles heard an explosive crash. Just four minutes after Evelyn McHale’s death Wiles got this picture of death’s violence and its composure”.

Robert Wiles never published another photograph.

Wile's photograph was featured in various photography annuals and multiple editions of Best of Life anthologies, ultimately evolving from mere reportage to a symbol of pop culture. This image inspired a wide array of artistic expressions, including Andy Warhol's silkscreens, fashion designs, album covers, and even  Taylor Swift's Bad Blood music video. It is important to note that Evelyn never aspired to achieve iconic status; in fact, the notion would likely have been unsettling for her, as she was merely a young woman who tragically took her own life. The internet is filled with conjecture regarding her life and the circumstances surrounding her death.

Evelyn’s body was identified by her sister, Hellen Brenner, and in accordance with her wishes, she was cremated. There is no burial site.

Barry pursued a career in engineering and later relocated to the southern region. He passed away in Melbourne, Florida, on October 9, 2007, at the age of 86. He remained unmarried throughout his life.

The construction of the Empire State Building commenced in the spring of 1930, and tragically, even prior to its completion, the first individual had already taken their life by jumping. Similar to the Golden Gate Bridge, which was constructed seven years later, the building became a focal point for individuals considering suicide. Evelyn was the twelfth person to leap from the structure and the sixth to successfully bypass all safety measures. Within a span of three weeks, she was one of five individuals who attempted suicide from the observation deck. In response to these incidents, a 10-foot wire mesh fence was erected, and personnel were trained to identify potential jumpers. Regrettably, following the installation of the barrier, individuals began to jump from other areas of the building, predominantly from office windows. 

To date, there have been 30 recorded successful suicides from the Empire State Building.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out and contact International Suicide Hotlines