Autopsy confirms that Mendocino County inmate’s death was suicide

An autopsy report released this week on the Oct. 8 death of a Mendocino County jail inmate concluded he had committed suicide, but sheriff’s officials offered no explanation for why the man took his own life.

Shane Allen Murphy, 36, of Cleone apparently had not triggered concerns that he might be a suicide risk when he was booked into the county jail Oct. 6, based on his placement in a regular jail unit, rather than one set aside for people suspected of being suicidal.

But less than two days later, just before midnight, his cellmates awoke to find him hanging from his bunk, a standard-issue mesh laundry bag wrapped around his neck. They attempted first aid and called for help, Mendocino County sheriff’s officials said. Jail staff took over lifesaving measures but Murphy was declared dead when ambulance staff arrived.

It was the third suicide in the Mendocino County jail since 2009, sheriff’s Lt. John Bednar said. Another six suicides have been attempted but failed since August, he said.

Bednar said he cannot divulge any information about Murphy’s mental health status but all inmates undergo mental health screenings when booked. If there are concerns, they are further evaluated at a hospital and then housed in a special cell where they are checked twice every half-hour, Bednar said.

Murphy was housed in a regular cellblock, where deputies do cell checks hourly, he said.

The pre-booking screening process includes inmates’ filling out a form that asks them about their mental health histories and whether they are feeling suicidal.

“Some folks will be upfront and say ‘I’m suicidal,’?” Bednar said. “Other folks don’t say anything.”

Murphy did not have a significant criminal record in Mendocino County prior to his October arrest. His only other known local court case was a traffic infraction in 2010.

The October case was considerably more serious.

When police contacted Murphy following a report of reckless driving that day, they found him in possession of a loaded pistol and with a large quantity of cash in his glove box, according to a report released at the time. Police did not reveal the amount of cash.

Murphy also was suspected of being under the influence of drugs. He told police he had taken Dianabol, an anabolic steroid, according to the police report.

Further investigation by the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force linked him to 97 marijuana plants being grown at two locations in the Fort Bragg area.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@press?democrat.com. On Twitter ?@MendoReporter.