Inmate dies at county jail
The Illinois State Police is investigating the death of an inmate in the Monroe County Jail early Friday morning.
Monroe County Sheriff Neal Rohlfing stated in a press release that corrections officers located an unresponsive male in his cell shortly after 1 a.m.
“Corrections officers began life-saving efforts while Monroe County EMS responded,” Rohlfing said. “Life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.”
Monroe County Coroner Bob Hill pronounced inmate Joshua Glaus, 32, of New Athens, deceased at the scene.
ISP Master Sgt. Elbert Jennings confirmed that an independent death investigation is underway per the sheriff’s department’s request. He said ISP will gather all evidence and reports, including coroner and pathologist findings, and submit a final report to the Monroe County State’s Attorney’s Office at the appropriate time.
Video surveillance and other digital technology in use at the Monroe County Jail will be collected as part of the investigation, Jennings said.
“Anything that can show us exactly what happened will be used for our findings,” Jennings said.
On Oct. 30, Glaus was arrested by Columbia police in the McDonald’s parking lot following a domestic incident in an apartment at 230 Veterans Parkway. During his arrest, he was transported to Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville under police watch after complaining of chest pains.
Afterward, Glaus was charged with aggravated domestic battery (strangulation) and assault and transported to the jail.