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Crime & Safety

Crystal Lake Man Hangs Himself in Jail Cell

Thomas Puchmelter hanged himself with a sheet in his cell at Adult Correctional Facility Feb. 18.

While awaiting arraignment on a series of battery charges in the McHenry County Sheriff’s Adult Correctional Facility, Crystal Lake resident hanged himself in his jail cell Feb. 18, according to McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz. 

According to a press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office Jan. 22, Puchmelter, 42, of 169 Sunnyside Ave., Crystal Lake, was found alone in his cell at approximately 11 p.m. on Feb. 18 in medical distress. Correctional officers and medical staff immediately provided medical assistance and summoned the Woodstock Rescue Squad.

Puchmelter was immediately transported to Woodstock Centegra Hospital, where he remained on life support until Feb. 20 at which time life support was discontinued. He was subsequently pronounced dead by hospital staff, Lantz said. Lantz said she did not know why life support was discontinued. 

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“The autopsy and cause of death was asphyxiation due to hanging and we’ll be sending in some toxicology to verify if there was anything in his system at all, which we don’t believe there was,” she said. 

Lantz said he used a sheet from his cell and did not know how much time had transpired before correctional officers noticed him in his cell. 

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Puchmelter had not made his $25,000 bond and was in jail awaiting arraignment after allegedly attacking his 70-year-old mother in their Crystal Lake home on Feb. 15. He was charged with domestic battery, aggravated battery to an elderly person and battery with a weapon by the Crystal Lake Police Department.

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