Stephen Puza Jr.
Stephen Puza Jr. was a former preacher who retired in 1997 because of job burnout and narcolepsy, according to his family. On February 20, 2002, he died by hanging in his cell at the Carbon County prison in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, where he was being held. The death was recorded as a suicide. His family sued the county, prison officials and county commissioners in federal court, and the suit was still pending when the article was published.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide. The article reports that he hanged himself in his cell, and his family's federal lawsuit against the county, prison officials and commissioners over his death was pending when it was written.
Reported by: news report of the death.
Lawsuit: His family sued Carbon County, prison officials and county commissioners in federal court over his death, and the suit was pending when the reporting was published.