No place to be sick: When jail cell becomes a death chamber

12-14-16 Washington:

Olympia makes no effort to regulate Washington’s jails, the state’s psychiatric hospitals of last resort

Jimi Johnson had been bouncing between the emergency room and jail for months before he was booked for the final time.

At 27, Johnson’s schizophrenia was feeding him hallucinations that only grew worse inside his Shelton jail cell. He downplayed them in a last letter to his grandmother – the voices, he wrote from solitary, were “not that BAD!!” Then, on April 23, 2013, he strangled himself with a bedsheet looped over his Mason County Jail bunk.

Two years later, it happened again.

Like Johnson, 31-year-old Brandon Dahl found himself locked up alone after a string of strange, minor crimes. Having been badly beaten during a purported “attitude adjustment” delivered by other inmates, Dahl tried suicide on Sept. 15, 2015.

State ferry worker, sex offender found dead in jail

7-12-2014 Washington:

A convicted sex offender who was caught taking photos of young girls while working on a Washington state ferry was found dead in his jail cell Saturday, the result of an apparent suicide.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed that staff at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac found 50-year-old Steven Allen Dailey in his cell, unresponsive. The staff tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead by emergency medical personnel who responded.

A prison spokesman said foul play is not suspected and that the FBI is investigating it as an apparent suicide.

Dailey was taken into custody after a passenger spotted him taking photos of young girls July 3 on the Tillicum ferry, which runs from West Seattle to Vashon Island and Port Orchard. The passenger reported it to staff, who contacted police.

Dailey had been convicted of possessing child pornography in 2009. Federal court records state he had been caught taking part in a peer-to-peer child porn site. They found more than 500 images and 78 videos in his possession, some of them so graphic in nature, that he was given 10 years probation, which federal prosecutors say is unusually long.

Body found in marina ID'd as Belfair man charged with child porn

4-1-2014 Washington:

BREMERTON — The body found floating near the Bremerton Marina Tuesday was identified as a high-profile Belfair man charged with possession of child pornography last week.

Frank Edward McDonald, 52, apparently killed himself, according to a statement from the Bremerton Police Department.

He was released from the Mason County Jail on Friday without bail following a hearing before Superior Court Judge Toni Sheldon.

McDonald’s body was recovered by Bremerton police and fire department along with Navy personnel at around 11:30 a.m.

McDonald was a volunteer fire captain and an elected commissioner of Mason County Public Hospital District No. 2.

Suicide follows Coupeville school volunteer's child porn arrest

5-13-2011 Washington:

A man who volunteered in the drama department at Coupeville schools killed himself after being arrested for possessing child pornography, according to the Island County Sheriff's Office.

Detective Ed Wallace said the FBI provided the sheriff's office and the Coupeville Marshal's Office with initial information that 56-year-old Coupeville resident Charles Skow was in possession of child pornography.

As part of a joint operation, investigators from both offices served a search warrant on Skow's home on April 28 and seized a computer and associated storage devices.

Wallace, the department's computer expert, said an initial examination of the computer and storage media revealed numerous images and movies of child porn.

As a result, Skow was booked and held in Island County jail. On April 29, Island County Superior Court Judge Vickie Churchill found probable cause for Skow's arrest on suspicion of possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit activities.

The judge released Skow on his personal recognizance and ordered him not to have contact with minors.

On May 5, the Coupeville Marshal’s Office received a request for a welfare check at Skow’s residence. A deputy marshal found Skow dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the sheriff's office.

Patty Page, superintendent of Coupeville schools, confirmed that Skow was a volunteer in the schools' drama program. He worked building sets.

"I understand that his involvement has been minimal over the last few years," she said, adding that he spent more time volunteering at the school years ago.

After being notified of the arrest, Page said she pulled Skow's volunteer status immediately. She said Skow, under district policy, never had unsupervised contact with students.

Wallace said detectives have no reason to believe any of the pornographic images involved children from Whidbey Island. He said the investigation has ended with Skow's death. ..Source.. by JESSIE STENSLAND

Man due in court for child porn dies in car crash

5-16-2012 Washington:

A man scheduled to be sentenced to federal prison today for child pornography died in a one-car crash in Pend Oreille County this morning.

Bruce R. Thompson was killed when his 2003 GMC pickup went off state Roue 211 about 10 miles west of Newport and struck a boulder, according to Washington State Patrol.

Thompson, 61, was pronounced dead at the scene. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to be a factor.

The crash was reported about 8:30 a.m. Thompson was due in U.S. District Court in Spokane at 9 a.m. to be sentenced for receipt of child pornography. He’d been out jail awaiting sentencing since a grand jury indicted him in April 2011. The FBI searched his apartment in the 500 block of West 7th Avenue in April 2010.

Thompson pleaded guilty in February to downloading child pornography on the Internet from February 2006 to December 2009.

'Incestuous' Sex Images Found on Josh Powell's Computer Before Murder-Suicide

Posted in Related Deaths

2-10-2012 Washington:

(NewsCore) - Images depicting incestuous sex between a parent and child were found on Josh Powell's computer and handed over to Washington investigators just days before he brutally murdered his two children and then killed himself.

The material stored on the computer was deemed to be so disturbing that one psychologist working on the Powell's custody case recommended that the court prevent the children from being returned to their father, KING 5 reported late Thursday, citing Thomas Shapley of Washington's Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).

The images included very realistic "lifelike" simulations of incestuous sex acts, Pierce County officers said, and may have prompted a judge to order that Josh Powell undergo a psychosexual evaluation, according to the report.

Police in West Valley, Utah, discovered the documents and sent them to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department under a restrictive court order Feb. 1.

On Feb. 5, Josh Powell blew up the family home in Graham, Wash., with his sons, seven-year-old Charlie and five-year-old Braden, inside. Authorities believe he hacked his sons in the head and neck with a hatchet before the explosion took place.

Washougal update: Case ruled a murder-suicide; suspect dead

Posted in Related Deaths

12-10-2011 Washington:

Deputies said Saturday the Washougal house fire and gunfire-filled standoff has been ruled a murder-suicide and that homeowner and suspect Steven Stanbary is believed dead.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Office issued a release saying the heavily burned remains of at least two people have not been positively identified, but it’s believed Stanbary is one of them.

“Based upon the totality of information known to detectives at this time, investigators believe strongly that Steve Stanbary is the suspect and this his remains have likely been recovered,” the press release said.

Investigators believe Stanbury is dead because of circumstantial evidence and identifying items found close to the body. Physical evidence and video also show that Stanbary was found in one portion of the residence, while other remains were found on the opposite side of the house, said Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Kevin Allais.

'Horrific' Child Sex Abuse Investigation Linked To Dead Fireman

8-9-2011 Washington:

It appears a veteran Pierce County firefighter killed himself rather than face a police investigation into the repeated molestation of his adopted daughters.

KIRO Team 7 Investigators have discovered that 48-year-old Lt. Scott D. Hamrick of Eatonville, committed suicide by carbon monoxide on June 30 inside a horse trailer at the family's ranch. Police documents say Hamrick left a note, saying he was "afraid he would be going to prison."

After a confidential source informed Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne that Hamrick was under police investigation for sexual abuse of children at the time of his death, KIRO Team 7 Investigators contacted Central Pierce County's Fire Chief, Doug Willis. He confirmed that a detective had been talking with him and others within the department regarding some "particularly disturbing allegations" especially because Hamrick and his wife had been involved with foster and special needs kids.

Chief Willis shared with KIRO 7 Eyewitness News a resignation letter sent to him by Hamrick June 23 which states, "Personal issues have caused me to tender my resignation to the department effective immediately. I have enjoyed my time with the department and sincerely regret having to leave. Please list my reasons as personal only with no contact to be made. (Signed) Scott Hamrick ," Station 68 A-shift." Hamrick had worked at for Central District Fire and Rescue for 27 years.

A few months ago, an adopted foster daughter of the Hamricks was arrested by Eatonville police on accusations that she stole an iPod or iPod Touch. At first, the girl claimed she used the stolen item to send text messages to friends, claiming she had been molested by her father, Scott Hamrick. Police never investigated the claim, though. Eatonville Mayor Ray Harper told KIRO 7 the reason was that the girl recanted her accusation while being interviewed by an officer.

"Our officer was involved, he did arrest her, she did go to Remann Hall (where the juvenile court is located)," Harper said. "She had told the officer that she was just looking for attention from her friends and denied it to the officer."

But law enforcement sources told KIRO 7 the police interview of the girl took place with the Hamricks in the same room. Only then did the girl claim the texts were all lies.

KIRO 7 learned that the Department of Social and Health Services also may have been notified of the molestation claims.

DSHS spokesperson Sherry Hill would only confirm that the Hamrick's were licensed foster parents from October 1997 to September 2004. She said DSHS can't confirm any investigation because the case involves a juvenile.

In Eatonville, there are still questions about what could have been done differently, now that the allegations against Scott Hamrick are being investigated by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

Asked if Eatonville officials would be looking into their handling of the case, Harper said, "Oh, most certainly. We always look at our procedures if something we feel wasn't followed through."

Pierce County Sheriff's spokesperson Ed Troyer asked that KIRO 7 hold off reporting on our findings for a few days because his detectives are "going to be making some arrests." Troyer described the case as "disgusting and horrific," but ongoing. Troyer indicated that the sexual abuse involved more than just Hamrick.

A Facebook page, run by Hamrick's wife, Drewanne, says she and Scott had five daughters and three sons. ..Source.. by Chris Halsne, KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter

Former Yakima deputy dies in jail

5-22-2011 Washington:

YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say a former Yakima County sheriff's deputy who pleaded guilty in March to assault and rape has died in jail from an apparent suicide.

Chief of Detectives Stew Graham told the Yakima Herald-Republic Sunday that 37-year-old Sean Moore was found hanging in his cell Saturday night. Graham says authorities are investigating his death as a probable suicide.

Moore pleaded guilty March 11 to first- and second-degree assault as well as third-degree rape and burglary. He faced more than 10 years in prison. He resigned from the sheriff's office the day before his plea.

He was accused in October of entering the home of a woman he knew and assaulting her and a male friend. The woman reported that he returned later that same day and forced her to perform a sex act.

Moore had been kept away from the jail's general population and was alone in his cell.

An autopsy is set for Monday. ..Source.. by seattlepi.com

Jailed Kennewick firefighter dies after hanging

1-28-2011 Washington:


RICHLAND — A Kennewick firefighter who hanged himself in jail last week died Thursday morning, officials said.

Ryan Gladstone, 34, had been at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland since Jan. 18, after he was found hanging by bedsheets inside his cell at the Franklin County jail.

Benton County Coroner John Hansens said that he received a call about 9:30 a.m. from hospital staff, who said Gladstone had died.

An autopsy is being scheduled.

Gladstone joined the Kennewick Fire Department in 2007, and was a good employee and excellent firefighter, said Fire Chief Neil Hines.

"The situation involving Ryan is regrettable and tragic," Hines said Thursday. "Kennewick firefighters have been and will continue to provide support to his family and friends over this difficult period of time."

Gladstone had been accused of sexually assaulting a young girl and had been in the Franklin County jail since Jan. 13.

He was being held in a single-occupancy cell in protective custody in Franklin County because he previously worked as a corrections officer in the Benton County jail.

He was found in his cell by corrections officers on a normal rounds check.

Franklin County Sheriff Richard Lathim said they have reviewed the incident and found that Gladstone had not shown any indications that he was suicidal.

He was in a cell off the master control area -- which likely is where he would have been put if they thought he might attempt suicide -- that officers pass by on a regular basis to get to other areas of the jail, Lathim said.

Gladstone also was being checked on during regular rounds and had been interacting without any issues with staff earlier that day when he was taken to Benton County for a court hearing.

Lathim said jail staff see suicide attempts maybe two or three times a year, but there has been just one other time when the inmate died.

"A lot of times they don't intentionally do a good job," Lathim said. "Sometimes the motive is for attention, sometimes it's to get to the hospital so they can escape."

On Jan. 19, Gladstone was charged in Benton County Superior Court with first-degree child molestation.

He was accused of being under the influence of spice, a synthetic cannabis, when he allegedly molested the girl earlier this month.

Gladstone was put on leave from his job after his arrest. He and his wife, Lindsy, were going through a divorce, and she obtained a one-year protection order against him Jan. 18.

Lindsy Gladstone's co-workers at ConAgra Foods have established a donation account for her and her children.

Donations can be made at any HAPO Credit Union branch to the Gladstone Family Donation Account. ..Source.. by Paula Horton

Officials ID rape suspect who committed suicide near Puyallup

1-2-2011 Washington:

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has released the name of the man who apparently killed himself early Friday after he allegedly raped a neighbor.

The suicide of Scott David Shindle, 44, ended a five-hour standoff in the 11400 block of 63rd Street Court East just outside Puyallup, sheriff’s spokesman detective Ed Troyer said.

Shindle allegedly lured a neighbor into his home Thursday night and sexually assaulted her. The woman escaped about 9 p.m., got help from her neighbors and called 911, Troyer said. The Sheriff’s Department was not identifying the victim.

Troyer said deputies tried to negotiate with Shindle, but he barricaded himself in the home near Puyallup’s city limits and refused to leave.

Deputies evacuated neighboring houses. They fired flash grenades through windows, broke down a door and sent in a robot. By the time the robot reached Shindle, he had apparently shot himself, Troyer said. ..Source.. by THE NEWS TRIBUNE

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Suspected rapist kills self

1-1-2011 Washington:

A Pierce County man suspected of raping a neighbor killed himself early Friday morning while sheriff’s deputies prepared to arrest him.

The suspect’s suicide ended a five-hour standoff in the 11400 block of 63rd Street Court East just outside Puyallup, sheriff’s spokesman Detective Ed Troyer said.

Deputies have not released the man’s name or age. The county medical examiner’s office was trying to reach his immediate family Friday.

He allegedly lured a neighbor into his home Thursday night and sexually assaulted her. The woman escaped about 9 p.m., got help from her neighbors and called 911, Troyer said.

Deputies arrived shortly afterward with a SWAT unit. Troyer said they tried to negotiate with the suspect, who they believed had a felony arrest record.

The suspect barricaded himself in the home near Puyallup’s city limit and refused to leave.

“Obviously we weren’t going to let him go, because he was armed,” Troyer said.

Deputies evacuated neighboring houses and prepared to enter the home about 2 a.m. Friday. They fired flash grenades through windows, broke down a door and sent in a robot. The robot discovered the suspect, who apparently had shot himself, Troyer said.

Troyer said the woman received care at a hospital and was released to her family.

The scene startled neighbors, who stayed up late into the night to watch the standoff unfold.

“We’re just a small, quiet Puyallup neighborhood,” Monica Flores told KIRO-TV. “With this happening, it’s pretty scary.” ..Source.. by Adam Ashton

Lewis County Jail Inmate Commits Suicide

9-3-2010 Washington:

A 40 year old male inmate, originally from Morton, was pronounced dead last night by apparent self-strangulation in his cell at the Lewis County Jail.

Medical personnel were summoned by jail staff after they discovered the inmate had apparently strangled himself using bedding in his cell. The inmate was pronounced dead at the scene. The inmate was isolated in a high security cell by himself. Suicide notes were located within his cell.

The inmate was booked on August 24th for Rape of Child 2nd degree for having repeated sexual contact with a minor female over recent years.

Corrections officers indicated there had been no indication of suicidal behavior from the inmate.

An autopsy will be conducted. ..Source.. by Lewis County

Judge a Suicide As Reports Cite Sexual Conduct

8-21-1988 Washington:

SEATTLE, Aug. 20— A judge killed himself in a deserted hallway of the county courthouse Thursday after he learned that allegations of sexual misconduct were being published. A friend said the judge felt hounded by the press and unable to bear it anymore.

Judge Gary M. Little of King County Superior Court was found dead Thursday night of a self-inflicted bullet wound to the head, officials said.

He left a note saying: ''I have chosen to take my life. It's an appropriate end to the present situation.''

In the past six years, Mr. Little has been officially criticized or disciplined over improper contacts with juvenile defendants, according to reports made public in 1985. The Rumors Persisted

But rumors persisted of more serious sexual misconduct, leading a political challenger to raise those contacts as a campaign issue this year. They also led reporters from several news organizations to pursue reports that Judge Little had used his influence to coerce young men into performing sex.

Mr. Little, who was 49 years old and a judge since 1980, announced last month that he would not seek a third term, acknowledging that innuendo about his work with teen-age boys was the reason. He said he planned to move to California and go into a different line of work.

Judge Little shot himself about an hour before The Seattle Post-Intelligencer started printing Friday's editions, which contained allegations by five men, three of whom were former students of Judge Little's, that he had coerced them into having sex with him. The Seattle Times also reported Friday that it had been investigating Judge Little.

''He said he felt he'd been hounded by the press and he just couldn't take it anymore,'' said Camden Hall, a lawyer who was a friend of Judge Little and who spoke to him on the telephone minutes before the judge died. ''It was too much pressure. The hounding wouldn't stop.''

''He was not only driven into disgrace but to death,'' said Hal Foster, an art history professor and author who was interviewed from Paris by telephone by the Times.

Mr. Foster, who took Judge Little's law class at Lakeside School in the 1970's, said there was no sexual contact involving him and that he wasn't aware of any with his classmates. Newspaper Issues Statement

J. D. Alexander, executive editor of The Post-Intelligencer, said in a press release that Judge Little's death ''is a tragedy that touches the community at several levels. Certainly the most tragic is the loss of a human life.''

The newspaper's investigation was warranted, the statement said, because of a ''conspiracy of silence'' in ''key levels of the community'' about the judge's behavior.

A one-page, handwritten note, addressed to no one specifically, was found on a bench near Mr. Little's body, said Vaughn Van Zant, an investigator with the King County medical examiner. The medical examiner would not release its contents, but The Times reported the note said:

''I have chosen to take my life. It's an appropriate end to the present situation. I had hoped that my decision to withdraw from the election and leave public life would have closed the matter. Apparently these steps are not satisfactory to those who feel more is required, so be it.'' ..Source.. by NYTimes

Inmate commits suicide in Clark County Jail

7-4-2010 Washington:

A man in the Clark County Jail committed suicide about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office reported.

He was identified as Brice Oguinn, 34.

He was in custody for first-degree rape of a child and first-degree child molestation, according to a press release.

Clark County Major Crimes detectives are conducting an investigation, the press release said. ..Source.. by Dave Kern, Columbian staff writer

Inmate commits suicide in Clark County Jail

7-4-2010 Washington:

A man in the Clark County Jail committed suicide about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office reported.

He was identified as Brice Oguinn, 34.

He was in custody for first-degree rape of a child and first-degree child molestation, according to a press release.

Clark County Major Crimes detectives are conducting an investigation, the press release said. ..Source.. by Dave Kern, Columbian staff writer

WA- Inmate dies after suicide attempt

11-2-2009 Washington:

Man was awaiting sentencing for rape

An inmate at the Clark County Jail awaiting sentencing for a rape charge has died after hanging himself inside a jail cell.

William L. Ward died Oct. 28 of asphyxia, three days after he was found unconscious in a jail cell and rushed to Southwest Washington Medical Center.

Ward was in custody awaiting a Nov. 18 sentencing for third-degree rape. He was also serving time for driving under the influence and domestic violence fourth-degree assault convictions, said Clark County sheriff's Sgt. Scott Schanaker.

At about 6:45 p.m. Oct. 25, Ward's cell mate returned and found Ward hanging by his bedsheets from the cell's sprinkler system. The cell mate alerted a custody officer.

Officers performed CPR on Ward and managed to resuscitate him, Schanaker said. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. His body was released to the Clark County Medical Examiner's Office, which ruled on the cause of death.

Schanaker said Ward had made earlier threats to commit suicide, but was not on suicide watch at the jail.

He was taking anti-anxiety and depression medications but had started "cheeking," or not swallowing his pills, Schanaker said. ..Source.. by LAURA MCVICKER
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

WA- Sex, suicide surround suit against Seattle psychologist's estate

7-16-2009 Washington:

A former employee has filed a lawsuit against the estate of a once-prominent Seattle psychologist accused of hiding a video camera in his office bathroom.

Stuart Greenberg was rising to the top of his profession when, on July 3, 2007, police arrived at his North Seattle home after an employee -- the woman now suing him -- allegedly found the video camera fixed in the bathroom to record people using the facilities.

Three weeks later, Greenberg was dead by his own hand. Now, according to the civil suit filed earlier this month in King County Superior Court, the woman is seeking a piece of his estate.

In the civil suit, the woman alleges Greenberg confessed to voyeurism sometime after the investigation was launched. She also contends she was fired after discovering the camera, which was allegedly wired to his house located next door to his clinic.

WA- King County Jail inmate dead from apparent suicide

7-3-2009 Washington:

An inmate was found dead early Friday in the King County Jail, apparently after hanging himself in his cell, according to county officials.

The inmate, a 36-year-old man booked Oct. 29 on suspicion of first-degree rape, was discovered at 2:26 a.m, according to officials. The King County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet identified him or the cause of death.

"It appears to be a suicide at this point, but the Medical Examiner still has to do an autopsy and that won't be completed until Monday," said Maj. William Hayes, a county corrections spokesman.

Corrections officers, who discovered him during a routine security check, attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Hayes said.

The inmate's death will be investigated, which is standard for all in-custody deaths. He was the second inmate to die in custody in a month. On June 4, Joseph Demmert, who was booked on a warrant for failing to appear in Municipal Court, died at Harborview Medical Center. The Medical Examiner's Office has not yet determined his cause of death.

"Obviously, it's not good for the person who passes and it traumatizes those who have to come upon it and have to deal with these things when they occur," Hayes said.

Earlier this year, King County agreed in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to address several civil rights issues uncovered by an investigation that found lacking medical care, poor suicide prevention measures and insufficient safeguards against inmate abuse. The Justice Department is still monitoring the jail's progress.

"They are still here and I'm sure they'll be talking to us about this case," Hayes said. ..Source.. by SCOTT GUTIERREZ, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF



Inmate who was found dead was charged in Wallingford rape

7-5-2009 Washington:

A man accused of raping a Wallingford woman after he allegedly broke into her home last October was found dead Friday in the King County Jail, apparently after hanging himself, according to law enforcement sources.

Police sources identified the inmate Saturday as Franklin D. Antill, also known as Sankarandi Skanda, 36, who was charged with first-degree rape, robbery and burglary, and was facing a lengthy prison term.

Skanda was slated to testify Monday at his trial in King County Superior Court. Prosecutors, who'd been frustrated by his earlier behavior while acting as his own attorney, would have had a chance to grill him on claims he had made against the victim.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet identified him or the cause of death.

"It appears to be a suicide at this point, but the Medical Examiner still has to do an autopsy and that won't be completed until Monday," said Maj. William Hayes, a county corrections spokesman, on Friday.

Corrections officers, who discovered him at 2:26 a.m. during a routine security check, attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Hayes said.

The inmate's death will be investigated, which is standard for all in-custody deaths.

Skanda was accused of breaking into the woman's home on Oct. 20. He allegedly held a knife to her throat, demanded money and sexually assaulted her while her two children were asleep. Her husband had just left for the store.

Skanda chose to represent himself at trial instead of getting an attorney, which enabled him to question the victim on the witness stand. Skanda raised unsupported allegations against the woman, 35, claiming they'd had an affair and that she wanted him to kill her husband.

The woman told jurors that when Skanda got inside her home, he gripped her from behind and held a knife to her throat while demanding money.

She said she offered him what cash she had and more -- her wedding and engagement rings, anything of value in the home -- if he would leave before her husband returned from a nearby store. Skanda, she said, wasn't satiated by her valuables and sexually assaulted her at knifepoint as her children slept nearby.

During his questioning last month, Skanda allegedly violated pre-trial orders against raising unsupported allegations against the woman and her husband. Skanda continued with allegedly slanderous questions, and Senior Deputy Prosecutor Julie Kays objected, saying it was "the most offensive line of questioning I've heard in 10 years of practice."

Skanda described himself as a "religious doctor" who was attempting to found an Ecstasy-fueled "Temple of Love" church. His changed his name from Frank Antill when he converted to Hinduism while serving a prison term after being implicated in a similar assault in Idaho. Skanda was registered in jail records as Antill.

According to prosecutors, Idaho authorities believe that Antill kidnapped and raped a woman in 2000 after escaping from prison, where he was serving time for a burglary conviction. He was released from prison last May after pleading guilty to an escape charge.

If convicted, Skanda would have been subject to an indefinite term of confinement under state sex offender sentencing rules.

Skanda was the second inmate to die in custody in a month. On June 4, Joseph Demmert, who was booked on a warrant for failing to appear in Municipal Court, died at Harborview Medical Center.

Earlier this year, King County agreed in a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to address several civil rights issues uncovered by an investigation that found lacking medical care, poor suicide prevention measures and insufficient safeguards against inmate abuse. The Justice Department is still monitoring the jail's progress.

"They are still here and I'm sure they'll be talking to us about this case," said Hayes, the jail spokesman. ..Source.. by CASEY MCNERTHNEY and SCOTT GUTIERREZ
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

WA- Man in protective custody unit hangs himself with bedsheet

2-24-2009 Washington:

A 52-year-old Centralia man died after hanging himself with a bedsheet Saturday night in the Lewis County Jail.

He hanged himself sometime between 5:40 and 6:18 p.m. Saturday night, said Lewis County Chief Deputy Stacy Brown.

The man was taken to Providence Centralia Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The man had been in the jail’s protective custody unit, Brown said.

“Usually that means they’re there for a reason, that there’s been something that’s caused them to be put in a safe location,” Brown said.

Prisoners in the unit are subjected to routine checks, she said.

The man, whose name has not been released, had been returned to the Lewis County Jail during a legal appeal. He was a registered sex offender from a 2001 child molestation case, Brown said.

This is the second suicide in the Lewis County Jail in a year.

On April 15, 2008, Michael Bridgman, 39, was found hanging from a bedsheet during a routine check of his single-person cell.

That 2008 case was believed to be the first suicide in the Lewis County Jail in 20 years, with the last suicide reported on April 14, 1988. ..Source.. by The (Centralia) Chronicle

WA- Molestation suspect reportedly kills himself

5-30-2006 Washington:

An accused child molester from Olympia stole some guns and drove into the Stampede Pass area off Interstate 90, then killed himself, Kittitas County sheriff's deputies said. The body of Michael A. Durbiano IV, 38, was recovered about noon Friday after authorities spotted his burned-out vehicle from the air, Undersheriff Clayton Myers said in a news release. According to Myers, authorities were notified by Durbiano's family Thursday night that Durbiano had stolen several guns and drove into the mountains near Stampede Pass, about 10 miles south of Snoqualmie Pass.

Durbiano was facing child molestation charges in Thurston County and, according to Myers, was reportedly ready to shoot any members of law enforcement who came into the area. With the aid of a Washington State Patrol aircraft, a Kittitas County sheriff's deputy spotted a burned-out vehicle about five miles south of the freeway at 10 a.m. Friday. Myers said the Kittitas County Special Response Team found Durbiano's body in the treeline about 50 yards from his vehicle. A loaded hunting rifle, shotgun and .45-caliber handgun were recovered.

A preliminary investigation indicated Durbiano torched his vehicle and then shot himself in the head, Myers said. The body was taken to Ellensburg for an autopsy. According to court records, Durbiano was charged with two counts of second-degree child molestation in January. That same day, an anti-harassment protection order was signed by a Thurston County judge. A trial date of July 19 was pending. A hearing in the case was held Thursday. Myers said Durbiano reportedly vowed he was not .going back to jail. ..Source.. by CHRIS BRISTOL, YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC