Whiteside sheriff: Inmate, 21, dead of apparent suicide

MORRISON – A 21-year-old Whiteside County jail inmate was found unresponsive in his cell Friday morning and was pronounced dead, the victim of an apparent suicide, Whiteside County Sheriff John Booker said in a news release.

As is procedure, Illinois State Police are investigating.

The man, who is not being identified pending notification of his family, was found about 1:30 a.m. Correctional officers tried lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead by the Whiteside County Coroner’s Office, according to the release.

An autopsy will be done Monday, Booker said.

According to SVM archives, it’s at least the second suicide in as many years at the Morrison jail.

Michael Kinison, 50, of Sterling hanged himself Aug. 10, 2020. Kinison was charged with arson and was being held on $25,000 bond; investigators said he set fire to a garage in Rock Falls on July 17.