John E. du Pont
John du Pont, 72, was a member of the du Pont chemical family, and his lawyer, Taras Wochok, said he spent much of his time in prison tutoring other people held there and was shy and uncomfortable in large groups. He died on December 9, 2010, at the Laurel Highlands state prison in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, after being found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead at Somerset Community Hospital. His lawyer said he had severe emphysema and COPD and had been gravely ill in recent weeks. Prison spokeswoman Susan McNaughton said officials considered the death natural, while the Somerset County coroner was still gathering information and had not given a final determination of cause.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness. Prison spokeswoman Susan McNaughton said officials considered the death natural because he had illnesses, while his attorney Taras Wochok said he had severe emphysema and COPD and was gravely ill in recent weeks.
Reported by: Pennsylvania state prisons spokeswoman Susan McNaughton (the agency that held him); attorney Taras Wochok (family or their lawyers).