Jail inmate kills himself

Arrested earlier in theft of anhydrous ammonia

EAST PRAIRIE -- A New Madrid man arrested on charges of anhydrous ammonia theft hanged himself in a holding cell at the East Prairie City Jail early Wednesday.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, at approximately 12:40 a.m. Wednesday, officers from the Patrol observed the attempted theft of anhydrous ammonia and successfully arrested three subjects without incident. The arrest occurred at a nearby agriculture supply business, just outside the city limits of East Prairie.

After the initial arrest, officers were completing their investigation of the incident and utilized the temporary holding facility at the East Prairie City Jail. Despite routine inspections by the staff, officers discovered the body of 21-year-old Brandon Mosby of New Madrid, a suspect from the earlier anhydrous theft, hanging in the holding cell at 2:27 a.m.

According to Mississippi County Coroner Terry Parker, Mosby, hanged himself using his shirt wrapped around the cell bars and apparently committed suicide. Attempts were made to revive Mosby and CPR was initiated until EMS personnel arrived at the jail. Mosby was transported by ambulance to the Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston, where he was later pronounced dead.

There were no other inmates in the cell at the time of the incident and no warning signs associated with suicide were evident. An autopsy on Mosby was scheduled Wednesday in Farmington.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control is continuing the investigation in cooperation with the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office, the East Prairie Police Department and the Mississippi County Coroner's Office. The names of the other two subjects are being withheld until formal charges are filed by the Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.