Report: Man commits suicide in Washington County jail

Friday, March 16, 2012

A man who was charged with rape and sexual assault committed suicide Thursday in the Washington County jail, according to a news release from the Washington County Sheriff's Office.

William Scott Spurgeon, 39, of Prairie Grove, used socks and clothing to hang himself Thursday night from the railing of a jail cell bed, the news release stated. He had reportedly been served divorce papers Thursday, according to the news release.

Jail personnel performed CPR and used a defibrillator to try to revive Spurgeon. He was pronounced dead at the Washington Regional Medical Center.

The sheriff's office will conduct an internal investigation, according to the news release.