Joel Velasquez-Reyes
Joel Velasquez-Reyes, 39, was originally from Puerto Rico and had worked as an auto body repairman; his son's mother remembered him as a good listener with a good heart and said he lived with bipolar disorder. He died on June 3, 2017, in a medical housing unit cell at the Allegheny County Jail, where he was being held before trial. The county medical examiner's office ruled his death a suicide by hanging, and jail sources said he used a bed sheet in a semi-private bathroom that corrections officers could not see from the cell door window. His death was the second hanging at the jail in less than two months, and the jail has since reportedly ordered patrols of the unit every 15 minutes.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The medical examiner's office ruled his death a suicide by hanging, and the jail says he used a bed sheet in a bathroom that officers could not see from the cell door window; the article notes the jail has since ordered 15-minute patrols of the unit.
Reported by: county medical examiner's office (medical examiner or coroner); Allegheny County Jail (the agency that held him).