Inmate disciplined for missing razor blade suffered arm laceration in apparent suicide
NEWARK − A Licking County Justice Center inmate put in a solitary cell over a missing razor blade, died from an apparent suicide, suffering a laceration to his arm, officials said.
Licking County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Jay Cook and Lt. Greg Cook responded to Advocate questions about the death, stating Luis Figueroa, 39, of London, Ohio, was placed in the disciplinary block due to a missing razor blade he claimed to have flushed down the toilet up to two days earlier. Figueroa was found dead in his cell May 13, with significant blood loss, they said.
"There were no other injuries to his body other than the laceration on his arm," Capt. Cook said. "We are still waiting for the autopsy report before we can officially say what the cause of death was. We will not close this case until we get the autopsy report."
Figueroa, his cell and the module were all searched without finding the razor blade, Lt. Cook said.
A correctional officer found Figueroa unresponsive in his cell at 1:53 a.m., according to a Licking County Sheriff's Office press release. Officers performed life-saving measures and Newark Fire Department personnel responded, but pronounced Figueroa dead at about 2:04 a.m.
Figueroa also attempted suicide in November 2011. It was the ninth suicide at the jail in the last 14 years and the sixth attempt since Jan. 1, 2023. There were three suicides in 2011, one in 2014, two in 2015, one in 2018 and one in 2023.
A letter Figueroa left behind indicates he was upset about issues related to his claim he was sexually assaulted by his girlfriend not being taken seriously by law enforcement or the prosecutor’s office, Capt. Cook confirmed.
Assitant Licking County Prosecutor Cliff Murphy said he can't comment because he hasn't read the letter.
Cook said in his more than 20 years with the Sheriff's Office, he can't remember a case when an apparent suicide turned out to be something different.
An Aug. 31, 2020, Advocate story stated Luis Figueroa, 35, was charged with one count each of felonious assault, a second-degree felony, and domestic violence, a fifth-degree felony.
On Aug. 16, 2020, Figueroa was suspected of knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm to another or to another's unborn by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordinance, and knowingly causing or attempting to cause physical harm to a family or household member, according to the indictment.
Licking County Common Pleas Court records show Figueroa was found guilty of aggravated assault, assault and domestic violence on Aug. 17, 2020. He was also found guilty of felonious assault on Oct. 28, 2011, found guilty of robbery and burglary on May 18, 2007, and found guilty of breaking and entering, criminal damaging and vandalism on July 29, 2005, according to court records.
Lt. Cook said jail personnel check on prisoners at least every 30 minutes.
“If deemed potentially suicidal, randomly every 10 minutes or less,” Lt. Cook stated in a written answer. “If actively suicidal (attempt or deemed to be actively suicidal) there is continuous observation.”
Throughout the day Figueroa was found, covering three separate shifts, the inmates in his unit were checked an average of every 26.2 minutes, Lt. Cook said. There has been no discipline issued.
In 2014, five corrections officers at the jail resigned after an investigation revealed officers failing to complete rounds and recording inaccurate information in jail logs related to those rounds.
Inmates have access to mental health counselors upon request, Lt. Cook said.
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This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Inmate in solitary for missing razor blade found dead with cut to arm
