Detainee dies days after suicide attempt at Cook County jail

A man died Monday several days after a suicide attempt in his cell at the Cook County Jail.

Giovanny Gomez, 27, was found with injuries from the attempt inside his cell shortly after 4 p.m. on May 8, according to Cook County sheriff’s office spokeswoman Cara Smith.

He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:35 a.m. on Monday, according to Smith and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He lived in Roseland on the Far South Side.

An autopsy Tuesday found he died of complications of asphyxiation from hanging and his death was ruled a suicide, the medical examiner’s office said.

Gomez had been held at the jail for 38 days on charges of domestic battery and violating an order of protection, Smith said.

She said the Illinois State Police will investigate Gomez’s death, as it does all in-custody deaths.

“All indications show that the required checks had been completed and this was a tragic accident,” Smith said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.