Death of LCCF inmate ruled suicide

Mar. 30—An inmate at Luzerne County Correctional Facility died of suicide on Sunday, six days after he was found unresponsive at the county jail.

The inmate, a 36-year-old male, was pronounced dead at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital on Sunday evening, county Manager David Pedri said in an email to county council on Monday.

The man was found unresponsive in his assigned housing area at the correctional facility at 9:33 p.m. on March 22, Pedri said in the email.

Corrections officers responded immediately and provided life-saving measures until emergency medical personnel arrived and transported the inmate to the hospital, Pedri wrote.

The man remained under medical care until he was pronounced dead on Sunday, Pedri told council.

An autopsy was performed Monday.

Pedri confirmed with the county coroner's office that the manner of death was ruled suicide and the cause of death was hanging.

Pedri told council the district attorney's office was investigating the circumstances surrounding the inmate's death.

District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce confirmed Monday night, before the cause and manner of death were released, that his office was investigating.

He did not immediately return a message asking if the ruling of suicide would end that investigation.

The correctional facility revised its protocols to place a stronger emphasis on mental health treatment for inmates following several inmate suicides in recent years, Pedri has said.

Contact the writer:

emark@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2117