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| Second Death at Va. Jail Prompts Probe |
| By Washington Post |
| Published: 03/31/2003 |
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Loudoun County law enforcement officials have asked the Virginia State Police to investigate the apparent suicides of two inmates at the Leesburg jail. Michael Rohrer, 21, of Leesburg died March 20 after he was found hanging from a sheet in his cell. His death came 10 days after deputies discovered Thomas Tacey, 44, of Sterling, hanging from a sheet in his cell. Tacey died the next day at Loudoun Hospital. Loudoun County Commonwealth's Attorney Robert D. Anderson (R) sent a letter March 21 to the Virginia State Police requesting an investigation of the incidents. Loudoun Sheriff Stephen O. Simpson said he agreed that an independent review was appropriate and also contacted the State Police and Virginia Department of Corrections on Friday. According to court records, Rohrer was being held on a probation violation charge. Tacey was charged with a drunken driving offense. Sheriff's spokesman Kraig Troxell said deputies found Rohrer hanging in his cell about 1:40 a.m. Thursday during a routine check and immediately began CPR. He was taken to Loudoun Hospital's Cornwall campus in Leesburg, where he was pronounced dead just before 3 a.m. Simpson said he was confident that all safety procedures were followed. Anderson said in his letter that the independent review was needed to avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict and to determine whether the deaths were 'related to other recent criminal cases in the county.' He declined to elaborate. Troxell said Tacey was found hanging from a sheet in his cell March 11 during a routine check. The Northern Virginia medical examiner's office in Fairfax ruled the death a suicide, and an investigation by the Sheriff's Office determined there was no foul play. An internal investigation into Tacey's death determined that all local and state safety guidelines were followed, Troxell said. The Sheriff's Office requires jail staff to check inmates every half-hour. |
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