An inmate at the McDonald County Jail tried to commit suicide this morning, Sheriff Robert Evenson said this afternoon.
At about 6:25 a.m., inmate Kevin Scott tried to commit suicide while being held in the jail. Scott had just completed court proceedings about five hours earlier, where he was convicted of multiple sex offenses stemming from an incident in 1997. The trial was the second for Scott.
When jail staffers were waking up inmates in Scott’s cellblock for breakfast, they noted Scott did not pick up his food, Evenson said in a prepared statement. They went to Scott’s cell, finding the inmate lying on his mattress with a sock tied around his neck. Scott was unresponsive, Evenson said, and staffers immediately removed the sock and began first aid.
Paramedics arrived and transported Scott to a Joplin hospital for treatment.
“Quick action by the corrections officers saved Scott’s life,” Evenson said.
The sheriff added that Scott’s condition was improving on Friday afternoon. When able, Scott will be returned to the McDonald County Jail to await formal sentencing.
