The new millennium has brought about some dismaying deaths in Genoa City, as beloved vets and even a teenager with her whole life ahead of her were tragically struck down. We've collected a handful of untimely and unusually cruel demises of some of YOUNG AND RESTLESS's favorite characters, which have us asking, "What the heck?!"

Brad (Don Diamont) — JPI

After going to see Sharon at the Abbott cabin, where she rebuffed his declaration of love for the umpteenth time, Brad braved a ferocious snowstorm to return to Genoa City. En route home, he encountered car trouble and attempted to fix the problem himself. While tinkering under the hood, Brad heard someone calling for help and gallantly ran to the rescue. Little did he know the person in trouble was Sharon's son, Noah, who had fallen through a frozen lake. Brad crawled onto the ice and saved Noah, but ended up plummeting into the frigid water himself. His body was later discovered frozen beneath the ice. Talk about a chilling demise!

Sabrina (Raya Meddina) — JPI

Serial killer/con man David Chow had been busted by his wife Nikki. She was tired of his lies and put plans in motion to divorce him. David, however, had plans of his own for his wealthy wife: He plotted to poison her. When his scheme to kill Nikki went awry at the art gala, David left the event alone. Unfortunately, the pregnant Sabrina asked him for a ride home and he obliged. Sadly, she never made it back to the ranch. David's enemies orchestrated a car accident that killed both him and Sabrina.

Marge and Kay (both Jeanne Cooper) — CBS

The old saying "No good deed goes unpunished" never rang truer than the day Kay secretly slipped off to tend to her old friend (and look-alike), Marge, who had fallen off the wagon and was in dire need of professional help. As Kay drove Marge to a rehab clinic, a nervous Marge freaked and grabbed for the steering wheel, sending their car plummeting over a bridge. Only one body was found dead on the scene, and everyone presumed it was Kay. Genoa City mourned her loss, totally unaware Marge was the real victim. Meanwhile, Kay had wandered off with Murphy, who thought he was taking care of his old friend Marge.

Nick (Joshua Morrow) — CBS

While returning home from a business trip, Nick and Sharon were thought to have been killed in a horrible plane crash when the Newman jet went down in Lake Michigan...until Sharon showed up very much alive, noting she'd taken another flight at the last minute. Nick, however, was presumed dead for months. Eventually, he turned up lost and hurt in the woods, where he was found by Logan Anderson and brought back to Genoa City and his family. Unfortunately, Nick had lost all memory of the past two years of his life, including his marriage to Phyllis, and their daughter Summer. Remembering only his love for Sharon, Nick tried to win her back, even though she was married to Jack.

Drucilla (Victoria Rowell) — JPI

Poor Drucilla found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, when longtime nemeses Sharon and Phyllis ended up in a spat during a photo shoot on the edge of a cliff overlooking a river. As Sharon and Phyllis started to struggle, Dru jumped in to try to break things up. In the scuffle, Dru and Sharon lost their footing and plummeted into the river. Sharon was later rescued, but Dru's body was never found.

John (Jerry Douglas) — CBS

John had finally found true love with Gloria, until his new wife's dastardly ex Tom showed up. Gloria had neglected to tell John that she and Tom were still married. When John uncovered the truth and learned Tom was now dating his daughter, Ashley, he freaked. John confronted Tom and accidentally shot him. John was incarcerated for Tom's "murder," but was about to be released early due to ill health, when he suffered a stroke. He was rushed to the hospital in grave condition. Doctors informed John's family he would never come out of his vegetative state and had signed a DNR. After much bickering, Gloria and Jack agreed to let John die with dignity.

Cassie (Camryn Grimes) — CBS

Although always the sweet, perfect daughter, Cassie began acting up when she became a teenager, cutting class and sassing her parents, Nick and Sharon. Despite her behavior, Cassie talked Nick into letting her attend a party one night. When she got there, Cassie found her secret crush, Daniel, drunk and passed out in his car. Cassie attempted to drive him home, but instead ended up in a horrific car crash. While Daniel suffered minor injuries and survived, poor Cassie died, devastating her entire family.

Malcolm (Shemar Moore) — CBS

Malcolm and Neil's love for the same woman, lawyer Alex Perez, caused a major rift between the two brothers. However, they still had to work together, and did so when all three were sent to Kenya on a location shoot. Tragedy struck when Malcolm and the location manager, Isaac, were driving to a site and a bridge collapsed beneath them. Malcolm rescued Isaac and then swam off to find their driver, never to return. After a search-and-rescue team found nothing, Malcolm was declared dead. Three years later, Malcolm resurfaced in Genoa City, explaining a local family had taken him in and nursed him back to health.