School principal accused of child endangerment, battery, falls to death at Disneyland

A Southern California principal and musician accused of misdemeanor child endangerment and battery fell to his death at Disneyland two days before his scheduled court date. 

Newland Elementary School Principal Christopher Christensen, 51, left a long post on Facebook on Saturday evening, about 20 minutes before he was found dead at about 9 p.m.

Police said Christensen's death was likely a suicide after he fell from the Mickey & Friends parking structure, The Los Angeles Daily News reported.

Court records obtained by the paper show that Christensen was accused of misdemeanor child endangerment and battery on Nov. 15, and he was released on Nov. 17 after posting $10,000 bond.

Christensen addressed the incident in the Facebook post. He said he and his wife "got into a heated argument at home in front of the girls," but "never in this exchange did I hit, slap, or hurt" his wife or the children, whom he said he loved like his own.

"I think it’s safe to say that [my wife] truly regrets making that call," he wrote. "I am on the brink of losing my job. ... However, the legal system is extremely flawed (especially against men/fathers) and it’s sickening how quickly and easily an innocent man can be thrown in jail."

He served as a principal in the Fountain Valley School District in Orange County for more than two decades and previously worked as a middle school music teacher in the Long Beach Unified School District. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.