Local inmate dies in jail

Initial report indicates he hanged himself in cell

BY JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIAN
Published/Last Modified on Thursday, June 10, 2010 2:05 PM CDT

An inmate in the Iberia Parish Jail hanged himself in his cell Wednesday morning, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Jody Leonard, 34, of 720 Weeks St., was pronounced dead at 10:56 a.m. by Iberia Parish Coroner Dr. James Falterman Sr.

Falterman said Wednesday’s preliminary investigation found the man’s death to be an apparent suicide, but he is waiting on further results to officially confirm the ruling.

Jody Leonard

“The investigation at this point indicates the young man died of asphyxiation due to hanging,” Falterman said.

The coroner said the body was taken to the Louisiana Forensic Center in Lafayette for further investigation. Results from the center could take four to six weeks.

Leonard had been in the Iberia Parish Jail since June 1 when he was booked on charges of domestic abuse battery and a warrant for contempt of court from Vermilion Parish, Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Lt. Ryan Turner said. Leonard was being held on $2,500 bond.

Turner said Leonard did not behave in a manner that jail staff suspected the inmate could be suicidal. Had Leonard done so, proper precaution would have been made to avoid harm.

“The Sheriff’s Office goes through great lengths to ensure when a prisoner threatens to harm themselves they are placed in a cell where they could not inflict bodily harm,” Turner said.

Turner would not release what Leonard used to hang himself or whether any other inmates were inside the cell at the time.

“It still remains under investigation at this time,” he said. “We are still gathering information from deputies and other individuals.”

Iberia Parish Jail Warden Wesley Hayes said he could not release any further details surrounding Leonard’s death and asked that all questions be referred to the Sheriff’s Office.

“It is a great tragedy and my sympathy goes out to the family,” Sheriff Louis Ackal said in press release. “The deputies performed CPR on the individual until Acadian Ambulance arrived and tried to revive him.”

The sheriff did not respond to calls requesting further comments.

He said crime scene investigators and detectives were called to the scene to do a full investigation on how the hanging took place.

Leonard was also awaiting a September trial date in Iberia Parish for failing to appear for charges of driving under suspension and seat belt use.

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Comments

Jane wrote on Jun 22, 2010 3:19 PM:

" I'm so sorry for the family. Especially his mother. None of us can assume we are above this situation with our own family members. "

Lisa Lopez wrote on Jun 22, 2010 12:37 AM:

" You people amaze me. You are too quick to judge. How in the world can you look at a picture and tell the problems a person does or does not have. Some of you are cowards. Put your name to your statement and quit hiding behind some bogus id. If you are brave enough to give your opinion...say who you really are. I'm certain that you will be too coward to do so...but then "COWARD" does fit you perfectly. To the Leonard family...my condolences go out to you. "

dee wrote on Jun 21, 2010 6:50 AM:

" lol ......jail or no jail I'd hang myself too if I had the live in the DIRTY little town of New Iberia.....Clean up you city people......you guys are nasty.............. "

RELATIVE OF JODY wrote on Jun 20, 2010 12:40 AM:

" YES his mother was a single parent, BUT she loved that boy and did all she could. He loved his mother also. YES he was in jail but he was still someones son,father,grandchild,& cousin!!!! He deserved much more. His mother is a great person who has much support and she should feel good for the time she had with him. "

old friend wrote on Jun 19, 2010 1:30 PM:

" i knew him for many years ago and he was a great guy..even great people make mistakes so BACK OFF...he went to school with me and was one of my first little boyfriends and i was really upset when i saw it in the paper when i went visit home..so RIP Jody.. "

Napping Guards wrote on Jun 18, 2010 12:26 PM:

" I actually heard one guard brag about napping while at work. Do the deputies have cameras on them? Maybe get rid of the lazy ones and give those jobs to people who will actually DO their job. I am not saying they are all lazy, but they do exist. "

Silly... wrote on Jun 18, 2010 10:46 AM:

" "" Please note your comments must attempt to follow basic rules of grammar and punctuation or they will not be posted.
Yet, Publisher JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIAN can use miss spelled words. Would figure they DO use word Perfect, etc. Don't just ignore the fix. Fix it. be a Professional in your work! to think we Pay for the Paper we read. ""

Wow, what a genius. I hope you were using poor grammer while complaining about grammer to be ironic. "

Eplaination needed wrote on Jun 18, 2010 8:34 AM:

" Okay, Dty Turner and Mr. Ackal try to explain in a news article that this guy was giving trouble in the jail and that's why he ended up in the disciplinary/segregation unit @ the jail. They also said that the inmate prevented the door from being opened so that delayed the deputies abilty to open the door and respond to Mr. Leanord. Fact is the doors in that unit open OUT not in so someone please explain to me how this inmate could have prevented the door from being opened? Just another excuse by this administration! "

truth be told wrote on Jun 17, 2010 1:05 PM:

" I know for a fact that Mr. Leonard was in the disciplinary/segration unit! If you think I'm wrong check it out! Why was he there...more importantly, what "Measures" were taken to ensure his safety from himself and others? Turner doesn't even go to the jail unless he HAS to how the heck would he know what goes on there. Mr. Leonard DESERVED to be protected and treated if his actions/emotions demostrated such a need! This is just another cover up! "

A friend of the deceased wrote on Jun 17, 2010 10:31 AM:

" I left my children with Jody on more than one occassion and they all grown now and very good people. Jody was a good man, good friend, great father and son. Don't judge a book by its cover!!!! He was his mothers only child. So have some compassion for her, she is going through enough. Not to mention his children. And he was accused of a crime not convicted. But what about the one that he supposedly battering stabbing him in the neck with a key, but not arrested. Don't talked about what you don't know. RIP my friend.Muchlove. "

Proffesional Huh wrote on Jun 17, 2010 5:42 AM:

" Please note your comments must attempt to follow basic rules of grammar and punctuation or they will not be posted.
Yet, Publisher JESSICA GOFF / THE DAILY IBERIAN can use miss spelled words. Would figure they DO use word Perfect, etc. Don't just ignore the fix. Fix it. be a Professional in your work! to think we Pay for the Paper we read. "

Some People wrote on Jun 17, 2010 5:35 AM:

" NO WHERE says. he was in a Disciplinary Unit. READ people! it wells states. " Turner said Leonard did (NOT) behave in a manner that jail staff suspected the inmate could be suicidal. Had Leonard done so, proper precaution would have been made to avoid harm.
“The Sheriff’s Office goes through great lengths to ensure when a prisoner threatens to harm themselves they are placed in a cell where they could not inflict bodily harm" "

Godspeed to the family wrote on Jun 16, 2010 10:55 PM:

" The family of this young man has my deepest sympathy. Unfortunately, so many of us live in glass houses assuming we'll never have to experience situations such as this. I pray for God's healing powers in repairing the hearts of his family. To those who choose to post insensitive or outrightly ignorant comments, I pray nothing like this happens to any of you. God has a way of allowing people to go through similiar situations so that they can understand just how hurtful tragedies like this can be. God bless all of you. "

LMc wrote on Jun 16, 2010 12:43 PM:

" Maybe yiou folks should not judge a book by it's cover. You don't know what kind of childhood he had. Maybe the fact that he never had a positive father figure growing up or that his Mom was a single parent made his heart harden. We should not judge him by his appearance but by the content of his heart. "

To To Judge wrote on Jun 16, 2010 8:29 AM:

" You are so right! The man in the picture looks like a real outstanding citizen. One you could leave your children with...NOT!

If it quacks like a duck, it's usually a duck.

Quit making excuses.

As to why he was in a disciplinary unit, I'm sure it was for good behavior. "

To Judge Roy Beanbrain wrote on Jun 15, 2010 10:24 PM:

" Tell that to former Iberia Parish President Will Langlinais. Oh, I forgot, all you Judges around here are owned by the politicians! "

concerned citizen wrote on Jun 15, 2010 9:24 PM:

" IIsn't anyone concerned with the man who died? What about his family? Yes, I agree there is more to this story whether it be depression, mental status, etc. But as far as the jail's responsiblity, why was this inmate in J-Pod? What did he do to get locked down? And what was the outcome of his disciplinary hearing? Although these inmates are in jail for some kind of accused or convicted crime, let's not forget they are still humans and have family in the "free" world that care about them. Sorry for your loss!!!!! "

to Judge.... wrote on Jun 15, 2010 12:41 PM:

" How in the world can you say by looking at a picture of someone that this person had an underlying problem? And then you let's not forget that he committed a crime! Isn't a person innocent until PROVEN guilty? He was accused...NOT convicted! Either way, the real question should be why was he in the disciplinary unit? Was he being monitored properly etc. etc. "

Judge Roy Bean wrote on Jun 14, 2010 9:15 AM:

" Hey Mike Leighly, I hope your satying out of trouble so you don't wind up in that same predicament again.
It's pretty obvious from the picture that this man had an underlying problem, probably drugs, and, let's not forget, he committed a crime. After all, last I checked it was still a crime to commit domestic abuse battery.
But hey, let's find some excuse to blame someone else (anyone) for what happened. That seems to be the going trend these days.
People should take responsibilities for their own actions. Do the crime, pay the fine! "

Mike Leighly wrote on Jun 13, 2010 7:35 AM:

" I spent 6 months in this jail and I can tell you there was no cameras or other types of security. I can also tell you that the jailers did not care then what you did to yourself or if you needed medical attention. I watch them try out there stung guns, fire extenguishers pepper spray on people just to pass the time. I don't know all the details to this story but it don't take much or long in there to get you depressed. "

Jessica wrote on Jun 12, 2010 4:39 PM:

" People, someone just died, who I considered to be a good friend of mine, and a family who is very dear to me is sufferring......WHO CARES IF IT IS HANGED, HUNG, ETC....!!!!!!!!!!" Show some class!!!!!!! Jody, you will live forever in the hearts of all of us who loved you!! "

1Opinion wrote on Jun 11, 2010 10:18 PM:

" Some folks has no compassion. He is still some one child. "

Lily wrote on Jun 11, 2010 11:58 AM:

" Find humor in something else this is not funny. This is someones child. Some people that post on here makes you wonder if they have any feeling or heart or a life. "

to lake wrote on Jun 11, 2010 9:50 AM:

" What kinda explaination is that? Did he or didn't he have some type of way to let people know he was in distress? I guess you're statine that he was where the camera couldn't view? Already the excuses start. "

jess wrote on Jun 11, 2010 9:29 AM:

" Maybe some of you should either be editors or English teachers!
a little off the subject are we?
Sympathy goes out to the family, somethings we'll never know "

Ha.. wrote on Jun 10, 2010 8:08 PM:

" Come on folks!! "

spanishlake wrote on Jun 10, 2010 7:20 PM:

" All of the houseing units do have a panic button/intercom in them. When the button is pressed, a deputy can speak with the person via intercom. All of the units do have cameras. But there is always a corner of the room that doesn't quite get a good view of the camera. "

AP Style wrote on Jun 10, 2010 4:20 PM:

" Jessica Goff was correct in her wording.

"One hangs a picture, a criminal or oneself."

However...

"For past tense or the passive, use 'hanged' when referring to executions or suicides, hung for other actions." "

things that make me go hmmm wrote on Jun 10, 2010 4:17 PM:

" the unit this inmate was housed in should be equipped with cameras right? When was the last time someone checked on the inmates in this housing unit? What means does a person have to call a deputy if they are in distress? Are the cameras recording? Don't just let this investigation rely on paper documentation, there are plenty of eyes and ears around to give an account of what happened! "

Correction wrote on Jun 10, 2010 4:17 PM:

" When using the word in this context, the correct word is hanged. Don't criticize if you aren't sure of what you are talking about. "

Things that make me go hmmm wrote on Jun 10, 2010 4:13 PM:

" This inmate was housed in the disciplinary unit (J-Pod) at the jail. The question is how did he get from the intake section to there in just 8 days. I would suspect a behavior problem of some sort to end up in this particular housing unit. Misdameanor charges is all he was charged with not exactly the type of person I would suspect of wanting to harm himself but then again, who knows what was really going on with him! Dig deeper DI there is more to this story. My sympathy goes out to family "

Say what wrote on Jun 10, 2010 4:08 PM:

" "Originally these words were pretty much interchangeable, but “hanged” eventually came to be used pretty exclusively to mean “executed by hanging.” Does nervousness about the existence of an indelicate adjectival form of the word prompt people to avoid the correct word in such sentences as “Lady Wrothley saw to it that her ancestors’ portraits were properly hung”? Nevertheless, “hung” is correct except when capital punishment is being imposed or someone commits suicide. " "

Cant resist either wrote on Jun 10, 2010 3:43 PM:

" Hey smartie pants, look up the definition of hang or hung. Hanged is the past tense version. You should do your homework before criticizing. I'm not a big fan of the grammatical errors in this newspaper, but in this case, you are wrong! "

To Cant Resist wrote on Jun 10, 2010 3:41 PM:

" Oh come on...the guy died. There was obviously a problem. Don't make light of this situation with spell/grammar check. How tacky! "

RUSerious wrote on Jun 10, 2010 3:32 PM:

" Someone just died and you are concerned about correct grammer..... "

Cant Resist wrote on Jun 10, 2010 2:15 PM:

" An inmate in the Iberia Parish Jail hanged himself in his cell Wednesday morning, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Hey article writer Jessica Goff the past tense of hang is hung, not hanged. Hanged is not technically a word. "

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