Dan Behar, Agoura High Student, Dies in Second Reported Suicide at Malibu Creek; Community in 'State of Shock'

By Simone Wilson Tue., Nov. 1 2011 at 9:15 AM

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Dan Behar was only 17.

Yesterday around noon, Dan Alexander Behar, 17, became the third young Agoura Hills man to die by his own accord in less than a week. Last Wednesday, former Agoura High student Josh Feinberg committed suicide off the Rindge Dam at Malibu Creek, reportedly upset about his grades in college. (Behar was a senior at the same school.) And on Sunday, Thousand Oaks High quarterback Griffen Kramer was found dead at a friend's house in Agoura Hills; his cause of death is believed to be alcohol poisoning.

Resident Pam Williams speaks for many in her comment on the Agoura Hills Patch report of Behar's death: "We have lost three young lives within a six day period. Needless to say our small community is in a state of shock."

Fehar died in a car crash at Malibu Creek State Park, near Piuma Road and Woodbluff Road. The single-car collision sparked a small brush fire that was quickly put out by the L.A. County Fire Department.

City News Service reports that "authorities say the crash is being investigated this morning
as a suicide." And a parent from Agoura High has confirmed that belief to Patch:

Later in the day, high school principal Larry Misel sent out an automated phone call to families of students who attend the school. One parent who received the call said Misel's message reported that Behar had taken his own life.

Behar's friends have started a Facebook memorial page for him called "In Memory of Dan Behar." It already has 58 members and 30 photos, including prom pictures and snapshots from hikes around northern L.A. County. (On the victim's own profile, he says he hails from Germany.)

Another local, Valerie Fox, comments on Patch: "I am so concerned about many of our teenagers and the situations that make them feel they must resort to taking their young lives. What, as a community, can we do to better support them so that more of these situations are prevented?"

[@simone_electra/swilson@laweekly.com]

Tags:

Agoura High, Agoura Hills, Dan Behar, Griffen Kramer, Josh Feinberg, Malibu Creek, suicide

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Mel

As a close friend of Dan I think I can speak for all of us in saying that please keep the comments about Dan's past in the past. He was troubled, which is why this tragedy occurred. We are trying to remember all this good and prevent the bad from happening to anyone else. Also please remove the link to his facebook profile, it would be greatly appreciated. R.I.P. DAB, I love you

Annie Escoto

Sorry for your loss, can't be easy being a teenager these days. Hope you and all your friends stay close and look out for one another, grow strong from this. Peace

Finnick

The fact that he hit the soccer coach isn't the point. But, maybe it will help someone else who is hurting from their bad actions that no one saw him in that light. I didn't know he did that but we all have weak moments where we might regret our actions. Young people need to know that one or two moments don't define who we are. He was a great young man who will be deeply missed. God Bless his suffering family

Can somebody tell me how they confirmed he suicide?...Maybe he's drunk or what? or he tried to avoid hitting something and crash maybe?But whatever it is, Im sorry for losing your life =[

Guest

Texted friends b4; left note in car.

Mummy Dearest

What does one thing have to do with another? The boy was hurting, he felt he had no other option. Until you know what that feels like, well...he felt helpless. Horrible. There is ALWAYS help. ALWAYS.

Guest

And, there's ALWAYS hope.

Sheridan Jandra

Typo "Fehar died in a car crash at Malibu Creek State Park, near Piuma Road..." Should be Behar. He went to my school AHS and he is dearly missed

Anonymous

This guy hit a soccer referee a few years ago. It was in all the papers and he was banned from the league.

Annie Escoto

You should be ashamed of yourself, for your lack of empathy and respect for those that are grieving!

Anonymous

And shame on this young man's friends or whoever posted the hideous picture of him on his Facebook memorial page dressed as a referee with blood on his face. Talk about lack of respect! Sorry, but rather difficult to be empathetic after seeing that.

Travis

And you feel it's neccessary to bring that up here?? He was a great person and should'nt be remebered for a mistale he made 3 years ago

Yossi

Why wait until after one's life to show them how much you appreciate them?A significant role in life (or lack thereof) can easily enough lean a person in the direction of either advancement or deterioration.

People, I think, should show each other how much they're appreciated even while they're alive...