KBI investigating after Shawnee County jail inmate dies due to apparent suicide attempt

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Law enforcement is investigating after an inmate at the Shawnee County jail apparently died as a result of suicide at a local hospital.

Trenton James with the Shawnee County Department of Corrections said in a press release that authorities have contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) following the death of 39-year-old inmate Matthew S. McCarthy. He died at a local hospital after an apparent attempt to end his life last week.

Jail employees were called to the inmate's cell in the Adult Detention Center around 4:15 a.m. on Dec. 11 due to a reported medical emergency. Staff found McCarthy in medical distress from an apparent suicide attempt. He was taken to a local hospital and was placed on life support.

Family of McCarthy later made the decision to remove him from life support. His death is under investigation by the KBI due to state law which requires all unexplained deaths in jail facilities to be investigated by the agency. The Shawnee County Department of Corrections is also investigating the death for internal operational management purposes.

McCarthy was initially arrested on Dec. 6. He was being held in the jail for the following charges:

• Aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
• Rape; victim under 14.
• Aggravated criminal sodomy.

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