Suicide suspected in fall from Eel River bridge

<p>Mendocino County Sheriff's officials say they have no reason to suspect something other than suicide in the death of Kevin Jolly, Round Valley's newly hired schools superintendent.</p><p>His body was found Friday beneath a new expansion bridge that crosses the Eel River at Confusion Hill, just south of the Humboldt County line.</p><p>Sheriff's Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said he "can't discount anything at this time," and said a cause of death will be issued after toxicology and blood reports are completed.</p><p>Jolly began his new job July 1 with the Round Valley School District, an isolated school system that suffers from a history of violence and poor school scores.</p><p>He is the father of eight, ranging from a 2-year-old to a college student. He was reported missing the day before his body was found, Smallcomb said.</p><p>Jolly grew up in Humboldt County and was familiar with the area.</p><p>The Confusion Hill bypass bridge rises up to 255 feet above the river bed, slightly higher than the Golden Gate Bridge. Pedestrians and bicyclists are protected from falls by a 54-inch-tall concrete and metal safety rail.</p><p>People who worked with Jolly in his previous role as superintendent of the Burbank Unified School District were at a loss to explain a possible suicide.</p><p>He had seemed upbeat about his new job in Mendocino County's remote Round Valley, said Dave Kemp, president of that school district's board.</p><p>"He was intense, committed," said Mendocino County schools Superintendent Paul Tichinin, who is now acting as the interim superintendent of the Round Valley schools. He said Jolly showed no signs of depression.</p><p>If he was depressed, his brother, Karl Jolly, said he didn't know about it.</p><p>News researcher Janet Balick contributed to this report. You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 642-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com.</p>