Steven James Harreld
Steven James Harreld, 32, was a man his family called a precious son and an incredible young man. His family said he struggled for years to understand himself and his place in the world, and described his battles with bipolar disorder, depression and substance abuse. He died on August 23, 2014, after being at Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union while in the custody of the Fayette County Jail. Authorities say that during a handcuff release he took a deputy's firearm, shot the deputy, who survived, and then shot himself; the Division of Criminal Investigation and an autopsy identified the death as suicide.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide. The Division of Criminal Investigation and an autopsy found that he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Reported by: Division of Criminal Investigation (outside investigators); autopsy.