Coroner rules inmate’s death a suicide
The Nevada Department of Corrections is investigating the suicide of a Las Vegas inmate early Thursday.
Rodney Thomas James, 50, was found at 3:10 a.m. hanging from an upper bunk in his room at the Casa Grande Transitional Housing Facility. He was not sharing the room with another inmate, the department said in a statement.
James was pronounced dead at 5:25 a.m. by emergency medical responders. His official cause of death was hanging, and the Clark County coroner’s office ruled his death a suicide.
James was committed from Douglas County in August 2016 and was serving 28 to 72 months for driving under the influence. According to the department, his earliest release date would have been May 4, 2019.
The facility provides inmates with a dorm-like environment during the re-entry phase or the last 18 months of their sentence. If court ordered during their stay, inmates seek employment and pay room and board, the department said.
Contact Rio Lacanlale at rlacanlale@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0381. Follow @riolacanlale on Twitter.
Warning signs of suicide
Signs of suicide can include changes in conversation, behavior and mood, according to the American Association ofSuicidology.
— If a person talks about being a burden to others and feeling trapped.
— If a person starts acting recklessly or withdrawing from friends, family and activities.
— If a person starts experiencing rage, anxiety, or a loss of interest — among other factors — reach out to the person orseek help.
For more information, visit: www.suicidology.org/resources/warning-signs.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24hours a day, seven days a week.
