diff --git a/src/core/display/Container.js b/src/core/display/Container.js
index 9410af2..0352095 100644
--- a/src/core/display/Container.js
+++ b/src/core/display/Container.js
@@ -563,7 +563,8 @@
 };
 
 /**
- * Destroys the container
+ * Removes all internal references and listeners as well as removes children from the display list. 
+ * Do not use a Container after calling `destroy`.
  * @param [options] {object|boolean} Options parameter. A boolean will act as if all options have been set to that value
  * @param [options.children=false] {boolean} if set to true, all the children will have their destroy
  *      method called as well. 'options' will be passed on to those calls.
@@ -573,15 +574,17 @@
     DisplayObject.prototype.destroy.call(this);
 
     var destroyChildren = typeof options === 'boolean' ? options : options && options.children;
+
+    var oldChildren = this.children;
+    this.children = null;
+
     if (destroyChildren)
     {
-        for (var i = 0, j = this.children.length; i < j; ++i)
+        for (var i = oldChildren.length - 1; i >= 0; i--)
         {
-            this.children[i].destroy(options);
+            var child = oldChildren[i];
+            child.parent = null;
+            child.destroy(options);
         }
     }
-
-    this.removeChildren();
-
-    this.children = null;
 };

diff --git a/src/core/display/Container.js b/src/core/display/Container.js
index 9410af2..0352095 100644
--- a/src/core/display/Container.js
+++ b/src/core/display/Container.js
@@ -563,7 +563,8 @@
 };
 
 /**
- * Destroys the container
+ * Removes all internal references and listeners as well as removes children from the display list. 
+ * Do not use a Container after calling `destroy`.
  * @param [options] {object|boolean} Options parameter. A boolean will act as if all options have been set to that value
  * @param [options.children=false] {boolean} if set to true, all the children will have their destroy
  *      method called as well. 'options' will be passed on to those calls.
@@ -573,15 +574,17 @@
     DisplayObject.prototype.destroy.call(this);
 
     var destroyChildren = typeof options === 'boolean' ? options : options && options.children;
+
+    var oldChildren = this.children;
+    this.children = null;
+
     if (destroyChildren)
     {
-        for (var i = 0, j = this.children.length; i < j; ++i)
+        for (var i = oldChildren.length - 1; i >= 0; i--)
         {
-            this.children[i].destroy(options);
+            var child = oldChildren[i];
+            child.parent = null;
+            child.destroy(options);
         }
     }
-
-    this.removeChildren();
-
-    this.children = null;
 };
diff --git a/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js b/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
index 83dc97f..7716d33 100644
--- a/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
+++ b/src/core/display/DisplayObject.js
@@ -579,11 +579,18 @@
 };
 
 /**
- * Base destroy method for generic display objects
- *
+ * Base destroy method for generic display objects. This will automatically
+ * remove the display object from its parent Container as well as remove
+ * all current event listeners and internal references. Do not use a DisplayObject 
+ * after calling `destroy`.
  */
 DisplayObject.prototype.destroy = function ()
 {
+    this.removeAllListeners();
+    if (this.parent)
+    {
+        this.parent.removeChild(this);
+    }
     this.transform = null;
 
     this.parent = null;