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Died in jail or a lockup

James Kohut

59 years old · died October 13, 2019 · Santa Cruz County Main Jail, Santa Cruz County, California

James Kohut, a 59-year-old former neurosurgeon who had worked at Dominican Hospital, was found dead in his cell at the Santa Cruz County main jail on the morning of October 13, 2019, where he was held pretrial in a protective housing unit and alone. Correctional officers found him when breakfast service began around 5:45 a.m. The Sheriff's Office said an early assessment by a forensic pathologist suggests he took his own life, and it said he had been on suicide watch early in his time there but was not on watch when he died. The coroner's office has not released an official cause or manner of death, and an autopsy was expected.

Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The sheriff's office says an early assessment by a forensic pathologist suggests he took his own life, though the coroner has not released an official cause, and his prior suicide watch had been lifted before his death.

Reported by: Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office (the agency that held him); Santa Cruz County Sheriff-Coroner (medical examiner or coroner).

Sources (10)

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