Kevin Esterly
Kevin Esterly, 53, of Whitehall Township, died in June 2026 at the Lehigh County Jail in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he was held. Officials said he was found unresponsive in his cell after the cellmate who had shared it was moved elsewhere in the jail, and he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio's autopsy found that he died by hanging and ruled the death a suicide. Investigators said he had no diagnosed mental health issue, and County Executive Josh Siegel said the jail uses mental health screenings and interval checks, a claim by the county; the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force is investigating the death.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). The coroner ruled it a suicide by hanging, and the district attorney's office said his cellmate had recently been moved, leaving him alone; County Executive Josh Siegel said the jail uses mental health screenings and interval checks, while investigators said he had no diagnosed mental health issue.
Reported by: Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio (medical examiner or coroner); Lehigh County Jail autopsy (medical examiner or coroner); District Attorney Gavin Holihan's office (outside investigators); Lehigh County Homicide Task Force (outside investigators); County Executive Josh Siegel (the agency that held him).
Sources (6)
- Kevin Esterly, man convicted of sexually abusing underage girl, kills self at Lehigh County Jail, coroner says
- Kevin Esterly: Lehigh County inmate convicted of child rape dies by suicide while awaiting sentencing
- Kevin Esterly, Lehigh Valley dad convicted of sexually assaulting teen, found dead in jail cell [Updated]
- Pa. man convicted of sexually abusing a girl for years was found unresponsive in his prison cell
- 2 dead in Northampton County Prison suicides, coroner says
- 3 separate inmate suicides under investigation in Lehigh, Northampton counties