Maybe some other people can cast some more light on this, but the main fact is is that Sipes hung himself after trying to set himself on fire. How factural the events leading up to this are, I truely do not know.
Here is what I had been told, years ago, from a somewhat reliable sourse (who use to work and write for one of the former muscle mags) leading up to his suicide: Sipes was a counselor at a Christian youth group. He took troubled kids on extended camping trips to the high Sierra's, from time to time. He witnessed at his church on a regular bases. It's seems he fell in love (lust?) with a teenage girl. He left his wife (do not know if he had kids) for her. After awhile, teenage girls being teenage girls, changed her mind and in return, left him. Trying to get her back to him failed. Taking his only solution he could think of in his state of emotional confusion, he attempted to set himself on fire. And, at last, hung himself.
Chuck Sipes was a strongman, first and foremost. Also an outstanding BB'er. Had a stage show of breaking chains, ripping phone books, lifting weights, etc. He was mostly known for his gripping and forearm strength. One of the first BB'er to routinely handle 400+ bench's in regualr training workouts. He would be a prime example of a extra dense and powerfull looking body. Never seemed to get the big push and backing from Weider at the time.
