Paul Mannina, the U.S. Department of Labor attorney charged in a home invasion, was found dead in a D.C. jail cell of an apparent suicide Tuesday, reported NBC4's Mark Segraves.
Mannina, 58, was arrested last week in connection with a violent home invasion at the residence of one of his coworkers.
He was "found unresponsive on the bunk in his cell by facility security staff" around 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, D.C. police said. Police said in an official release that the cause of death is under investigation.
Mannina had been in custody since Thursday following a June 5 incident at his coworker's home on Chesapeake Street NW.
According to charging documents, the victim told detectives she was expecting Mannina to visit her that morning and she let him into her home.
She said he briefly walked back out to his car to get his camera to "take photographs of her cat," but he returned with a red gym bag and used a stun gun on her while her back was turned.
He then allegedly struck her in the face several times, used pepper spray on her, ripped clothing off and handcuffed her hands behind her back. Police said he also attempted to sexually assault her.
The woman said he eventually let her go, and she led him out of the home and drove herself to a hospital. She had been beaten so badly that a plate had to be surgically implanted in her face, The Washington Post reported.
Police arrested Mannina Thursday at a Montgomery County-area hospital where he was being treated for a mental condition and had tested positive for opiates, Tylenol and alcohol. Sources told News4 he was hospitalized following a suicide attempt, and according to charging documents, while he was attacking his victim Mannina told her he had lost control and should go home and shoots himself.
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No medical alert form noting his mental condition was filed with the court, but his attorney told the judge his client needed mental health care, News4's Mark Segraves reported..
A Department of Corrections spokesperson declined to answer whether Mannina's mental health was noted during intake at the jail or if he was on heightened supervision or suicide watch.
“At this point, because the matter is under investigation by MPD, we have no further information to report," Sylvia Lane said.
D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells says he's asked the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety to issue a report on Mannina's death.
"I need to know what was communicated to the jail. When the jail took him in, they certainly have protocols regarding anyone who is on a suicide watch," Wells said. "I don't know what was in the court documents, and that's what we need to find out."
Several people who attended a hearing Monday said Mannina cried as his wife and family sat in the courtroom, Segraves reported.
Mannina was charged with third-degree sexual abuse and first-degree burglary. If convicted, Mannina could have served up to 30 years on the burglary charge and up to 10 years on the sex abuse charge.
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