Overview
- A visiting Brazilian university rector, Rogério Renato Mateucci, was struck and killed by a piece of roofing during a guided tour when high winds gusting into the 30s mph dislodged the panel on Friday, Oct. 16.
- Scottsdale police and fire investigators are treating the death as a weather-related accident and continue an active on-site inquiry while the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation has closed Taliesin West until further notice.
- Witnesses and a colleague provided a photo showing a curved, translucent panel on the rocks and a former employee said similar acrylic panels had come loose before, raising questions about attachment and maintenance.
- The Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná canceled events and held memorials for Mateucci as the foundation offered condolences and limited public comment to avoid disrupting the investigation.
- Preservation staff have long said the site’s insulated acrylic roofs are nearing the end of their service life and a plan to replace them with modern fabric roofs is now likely to become a central focus of safety and preservation reviews before tours resume.